The Town FilesLake Wisconsin, Wisconsin
Community in Columbia County · population 4,616 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $452,400
- Household income
- $124,127
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 51.3
Lake Wisconsin is a community of 4,616 people in Columbia County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $452,400, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more upscale than 91% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 79% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 74% of Wisconsin towns.
How Lake Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin is worth $452,400, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $124,127, which is more affordable than 27% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,515 a month. 94.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Wisconsin | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $452,400 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,515 | $951 |
| Median household income | $124,127 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 94.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.2% | — |
Who lives in Lake Wisconsin
| People | Lake Wisconsin | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 21.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 32.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 89.1% |
Weather in Lake Wisconsin
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 9.6°F. About 39.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Wisconsin since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 7, 1984 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 18, 2009.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 26, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1719: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 21,963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,667 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Lake Wisconsin itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Lake Wisconsin
- Lodi, WI3.5 mi · 3,282 people · home $441,500
- Lodi, WI4.4 mi · 3,189 people · home $328,200
- Dekorra, WI8.3 mi · 2,500 people · home $370,600
- Prairie du Sac, WI8.5 mi · 4,420 people · home $321,300
- Sauk City, WI9.3 mi · 3,518 people · home $291,400
- Poynette, WI9.8 mi · 2,590 people · home $296,600
- Baraboo, WI10.1 mi · 12,556 people · home $222,100
- Pacific, WI14.0 mi · 2,791 people · home $285,600
Lake Wisconsin questions
Is Lake Wisconsin, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Wisconsin scores better for retirees than 79% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 57%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.3).
How much does a house cost in Lake Wisconsin?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Wisconsin is valued at $452,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $124,127, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,515 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Wisconsin?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 9.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.2 inches of precipitation a year and 42.7 inches of snow.
Does Lake Wisconsin get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Wisconsin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 7, 1984. 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)