The Town FilesAlto, Wisconsin
Town in Fond du Lac County · population 1,055 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $250,500
- Household income
- $106,154
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 36.5
Alto is a town of 1,055 people in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $250,500, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Wisconsin towns, better for families than 93% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 92% of Wisconsin towns.
How Alto 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 Alto is worth $250,500, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $106,154, which is more affordable than 90% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,103 a month. 89.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alto | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $250,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,103 | $951 |
| Median household income | $106,154 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 89.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Alto
| People | Alto | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Alto
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 8.9°F. About 35.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alto since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1974 about 4.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 14, 1991.
Severe weather in Fond du Lac County since 1996
Fond du Lac County has been included in 12 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 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Fond du Lac County
Fond du Lac County had 45,047 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,238 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Alto itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Towns near Alto
- Brandon, WI4.4 mi · 882 people · home $168,500
- Waupun, WI5.5 mi · 11,344 people · home $188,600
- Metomen, WI6.3 mi · 689 people · home $274,500
- Waupun, WI6.4 mi · 1,373 people · home $324,600
- Trenton, WI7.6 mi · 1,219 people · home $294,400
- Fox Lake, WI8.0 mi · 2,588 people · home $364,200
- Springvale, WI8.3 mi · 675 people · home $245,300
- Markesan, WI8.6 mi · 1,377 people · home $155,000
Alto questions
Is Alto, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alto scores better for retirees than 20% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 35%. 14.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Alto?
The median owner-occupied home in Alto is valued at $250,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $106,154, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,103 a month.
What is the weather like in Alto?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 8.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.6 inches of precipitation a year and 41.4 inches of snow.
Does Alto get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alto since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1974. 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)