The Town FilesSturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
City in Door County · population 9,646 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $236,300
- Household income
- $59,926
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 45.8
Sturgeon Bay is a city of 9,646 people in Door County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $236,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks hipper than 99% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 96% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 91% of Wisconsin towns.
How Sturgeon Bay 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 Sturgeon Bay is worth $236,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $59,926, which is more affordable than 16% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,097 a month. 60.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sturgeon Bay | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $236,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,097 | $951 |
| Median household income | $59,926 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 60.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.1% | — |
Who lives in Sturgeon Bay
| People | Sturgeon Bay | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 13.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Sturgeon Bay
July highs average 78.0°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 32.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sturgeon Bay since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 8, 1985 about 0.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 8, 1985.
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 Door County since 1996
Door County has been included in 6 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 24, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3163: Snow |
| June 17, 1976 | Drought | EM-3014: Drought |
Jobs and pay in Door County
Door County had 14,223 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,594 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Sturgeon Bay itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Sturgeon Bay
4 public schools with 1,065 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon Bay High | 9-12 | 402 | 14.9 |
| Sawyer Elementary | PK-2 | 251 | 9.3 |
| Sunrise Elementary | 3-5 | 208 | 11.6 |
| Walker Middle | 6-8 | 204 | 8.9 |
Towns near Sturgeon Bay
- Sevastopol, WI12.2 mi · 2,826 people · home $430,200
- Algoma, WI15.5 mi · 3,243 people · home $153,300
- Peshtigo, WI18.0 mi · 4,006 people · home $213,700
- Marinette, WI22.3 mi · 11,119 people · home $120,200
- Menominee, MI24.1 mi · 8,488 people · home $104,400
- Peshtigo, WI24.7 mi · 3,420 people · home $140,300
- Oconto, WI24.9 mi · 4,609 people · home $148,700
- Luxemburg, WI25.4 mi · 2,685 people · home $261,700
Sturgeon Bay questions
Is Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sturgeon Bay scores better for retirees than 83% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 37%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.8).
How much does a house cost in Sturgeon Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Sturgeon Bay is valued at $236,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,926, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,097 a month.
What is the weather like in Sturgeon Bay?
July highs average 78.0°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 57.4 inches of snow.
Does Sturgeon Bay get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sturgeon Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 8, 1985. 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)