The Town FilesWest Bend, Wisconsin
City in Washington County · population 31,752 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $263,100
- Household income
- $74,076
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 41.0
West Bend is a city of 31,752 people in Washington County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $263,100, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 95% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 91% of Wisconsin towns.
How West Bend 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 West Bend is worth $263,100, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $74,076, which is more affordable than 27% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,076 a month. 65.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Bend | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,076 | $951 |
| Median household income | $74,076 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 65.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in West Bend
| People | West Bend | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in West Bend
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 35.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Bend since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 4, 1981 about 1.3 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 56 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 3, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 7, 2020.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 11, 2025 | Flood | DR-4892: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 58,417 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,316 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in West Bend itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in West Bend
11 public schools with 5,279 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High | 9-12 | 1,073 | 19.9 |
| East High | 9-12 | 914 | 16.6 |
| Badger Middle | 7-8 | 782 | 13.0 |
| Silverbrook Intermediate | 5-6 | 716 | 15.2 |
| Decorah Elementary | K-4 | 367 | 14.7 |
| Green Tree Elementary | K-4 | 354 | 13.1 |
| Fair Park Elementary | K-4 | 354 | 13.6 |
| McLane Elementary | K-4 | 351 | 14.6 |
| West Bend School District 4K | PK-PK | 316 | 39.5 |
| Rolf's Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 40 | 3.3 |
| Washington Street School | 4-12 | 12 | 6.0 |
Towns near West Bend
- Barton, WI4.0 mi · 2,743 people · home $383,100
- Trenton, WI4.5 mi · 4,525 people · home $366,000
- Polk, WI4.9 mi · 3,988 people · home $455,300
- Jackson, WI6.8 mi · 7,185 people · home $321,500
- Jackson, WI6.9 mi · 4,629 people · home $417,700
- Farmington, WI7.2 mi · 3,645 people · home $386,800
- Kewaskum, WI7.4 mi · 4,309 people · home $288,800
- Slinger, WI7.4 mi · 5,992 people · home $367,000
West Bend questions
Is West Bend, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Bend scores better for retirees than 14% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 5%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in West Bend?
The median owner-occupied home in West Bend is valued at $263,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,076, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,076 a month.
What is the weather like in West Bend?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 45.2 inches of snow.
Does West Bend get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Bend since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 4, 1981. 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)