The Town FilesKiel, Wisconsin
City in Manitowoc County · population 3,932 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $191,500
- Household income
- $75,953
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 45.2
Kiel is a city of 3,932 people in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $191,500, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more of a college town than 95% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 93% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 93% of Wisconsin towns.
How Kiel ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Kiel is worth $191,500, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $75,953, which is more affordable than 86% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $787 a month. 77.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kiel | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $191,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $787 | $951 |
| Median household income | $75,953 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 77.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kiel
| People | Kiel | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Kiel
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kiel since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 18, 1996 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 12, 2000.
Severe weather in Manitowoc County since 1996
Manitowoc County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Manitowoc County
Manitowoc County had 33,444 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,550 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Kiel itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Kiel
4 public schools with 1,246 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zielanis Elementary | PK-4 | 427 | 13.8 |
| Kiel High | 9-12 | 392 | 17.0 |
| Kiel Middle | 5-8 | 344 | 13.2 |
| Between the Lakes Virtual Academy (charter) | PK-8 | 83 | 41.5 |
Towns near Kiel
- New Holstein, WI4.1 mi · 3,195 people · home $178,700
- Chilton, WI10.4 mi · 4,080 people · home $161,900
- Plymouth, WI10.6 mi · 3,083 people · home $310,200
- Howards Grove, WI11.9 mi · 3,237 people · home $261,300
- Plymouth, WI12.2 mi · 8,932 people · home $213,300
- Sheboygan, WI16.0 mi · 8,136 people · home $350,100
- Sheboygan Falls, WI16.3 mi · 8,210 people · home $217,500
- Taycheedah, WI16.5 mi · 4,554 people · home $354,000
Kiel questions
Is Kiel, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kiel scores better for retirees than 39% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 14%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.2).
How much does a house cost in Kiel?
The median owner-occupied home in Kiel is valued at $191,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,953, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $787 a month.
What is the weather like in Kiel?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 44.4 inches of snow.
Does Kiel get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kiel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 18, 1996. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)