The Town FilesTomah, Wisconsin
City in Monroe County · population 9,570 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,300
- Household income
- $51,274
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 41.8
Tomah is a city of 9,570 people in Monroe County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $174,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks hipper than 96% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 92% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 91% of Wisconsin towns.
How Tomah 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 Tomah is worth $174,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $51,274, which is more affordable than 37% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $903 a month. 55.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tomah | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $903 | $951 |
| Median household income | $51,274 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 55.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Tomah
| People | Tomah | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 17.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 89.1% |
Weather in Tomah
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 5.4°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.8 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tomah since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 15, 2022 about 3.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 1, 2000.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 15 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 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 21,455 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,839 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Tomah itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Tomah
8 public schools with 2,638 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomah High | 9-12 | 902 | 14.5 |
| Tomah Middle | 6-8 | 681 | 14.5 |
| La Grange Elementary | PK-5 | 406 | 14.0 |
| Lemonweir Elementary | PK-5 | 275 | 11.5 |
| Miller Elementary | K-5 | 239 | 11.4 |
| Tomah Area Montessori School (charter) | PK-6 | 63 | 21.0 |
| Robert Kupper Learning Center | PK-12 | 37 | 9.3 |
| Timber PUPS Learning Center | PK-PK | 35 | 35.0 |
Towns near Tomah
- Sparta, WI15.9 mi · 10,025 people · home $180,600
- Sparta, WI17.7 mi · 3,253 people · home $275,000
- Brockway, WI24.7 mi · 3,035 people · home $159,000
- Mauston, WI24.7 mi · 4,347 people · home $150,200
- Black River Falls, WI27.2 mi · 3,523 people · home $171,800
- West Salem, WI29.8 mi · 5,277 people · home $277,100
Tomah questions
Is Tomah, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tomah scores better for retirees than 34% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 15%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Tomah?
The median owner-occupied home in Tomah is valued at $174,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,274, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $903 a month.
What is the weather like in Tomah?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 5.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 44.8 inches of snow.
Does Tomah get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tomah since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 15, 2022. 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)