The Town FilesShawano, Wisconsin
City in Shawano County · population 9,243 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,800
- Household income
- $57,490
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 40.2
Shawano is a city of 9,243 people in Shawano County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $160,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 96% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 95% of Wisconsin towns.
How Shawano 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 Shawano is worth $160,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $57,490, which is more affordable than 74% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $819 a month. 56.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shawano | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $819 | $951 |
| Median household income | $57,490 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 56.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Shawano
| People | Shawano | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 15.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 89.1% |
Weather in Shawano
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 6.2°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shawano since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on December 1, 1970 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 23, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 27, 2026.
Severe weather in Shawano County since 1996
Shawano County has been included in 8 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 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Shawano County
Shawano County had 12,343 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,528 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Shawano itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Shawano
5 public schools with 2,157 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shawano High | 9-12 | 770 | 17.5 |
| Shawano Community Middle | 6-8 | 468 | 14.2 |
| Hillcrest Primary School | PK-2 | 435 | 11.2 |
| Brener Elementary | 3-5 | 399 | 16.0 |
| LEADS Primary Charter School (charter) | PK-8 | 85 | 85.0 |
Towns near Shawano
- Wescott, WI3.2 mi · 3,257 people · home $219,100
- Clintonville, WI13.4 mi · 4,591 people · home $112,000
- Menominee, WI15.6 mi · 4,255 people · home $110,200
- Pulaski, WI18.6 mi · 3,870 people · home $235,800
- Chase, WI19.3 mi · 3,178 people · home $303,400
- Pittsfield, WI21.8 mi · 2,791 people · home $307,600
- Seymour, WI21.8 mi · 3,546 people · home $184,600
- Oconto Falls, WI22.7 mi · 2,957 people · home $162,800
Shawano questions
Is Shawano, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shawano scores better for retirees than 23% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 10%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Shawano?
The median owner-occupied home in Shawano is valued at $160,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,490, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $819 a month.
What is the weather like in Shawano?
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 6.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 47.9 inches of snow.
Does Shawano get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shawano since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on December 1, 1970. 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)