The Town FilesLake Geneva, Wisconsin
City in Walworth County · population 8,277 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $343,800
- Household income
- $75,629
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 49.1
Lake Geneva is a city of 8,277 people in Walworth County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $343,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 96% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 95% of Wisconsin towns.
How Lake Geneva 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 Lake Geneva is worth $343,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $75,629, which is more affordable than 6% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,389 a month. 54.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Geneva | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $343,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,389 | $951 |
| Median household income | $75,629 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 54.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.1% | — |
Who lives in Lake Geneva
| People | Lake Geneva | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Lake Geneva
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 37.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Geneva since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on January 7, 2008 about 6.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 2.90 inches on May 2, 2018.
Severe weather in Walworth County since 1996
Walworth County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 19, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3285: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Walworth County
Walworth County had 45,268 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,949 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Lake Geneva itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Lake Geneva
10 public schools with 3,463 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badger High | 9-12 | 1,275 | 15.5 |
| Lake Geneva Middle | 6-8 | 600 | 14.6 |
| Central - Denison Elementary | PK-3 | 548 | 13.0 |
| Star Center Elementary | PK-5 | 340 | 11.7 |
| Eastview Elementary | 4-5 | 247 | 15.4 |
| Reek Elementary | PK-8 | 155 | 11.1 |
| Woods Elementary | PK-8 | 150 | 10.0 |
| Traver Elementary | PK-8 | 87 | 6.2 |
| New Visions Charter School (charter) | 9-12 | 35 | — |
| Maple Park Charter School (charter) | PK-8 | 26 | 26.0 |
Towns near Lake Geneva
- Geneva, WI4.2 mi · 5,390 people · home $382,400
- Bloomfield, WI4.3 mi · 4,781 people · home $236,100
- Lyons, WI4.5 mi · 3,648 people · home $315,900
- Linn, WI4.6 mi · 2,687 people · home $537,100
- Williams Bay, WI6.1 mi · 2,953 people · home $444,700
- Genoa City, WI7.6 mi · 2,982 people · home $241,300
- Delavan, WI7.7 mi · 5,273 people · home $302,700
- Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, WI7.7 mi · 3,120 people · home $572,600
Lake Geneva questions
Is Lake Geneva, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Geneva scores better for retirees than 55% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 6%. 26.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.1).
How much does a house cost in Lake Geneva?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Geneva is valued at $343,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,629, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,389 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Geneva?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.0 inches of precipitation a year and 40.1 inches of snow.
Does Lake Geneva get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Geneva since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on January 7, 2008. 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)