The Town FilesBaraboo, Wisconsin
City in Sauk County · population 12,556 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $222,100
- Household income
- $69,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 40.4
Baraboo is a city of 12,556 people in Sauk County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $222,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks hipper than 94% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 93% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
How Baraboo 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 Baraboo is worth $222,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $69,750, which is more affordable than 48% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $940 a month. 62.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Baraboo | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $222,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $940 | $951 |
| Median household income | $69,750 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 62.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Baraboo
| People | Baraboo | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Baraboo
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 9.6°F. About 38.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baraboo since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 18, 2005 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 6, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 6, 2011.
Severe weather in Sauk County since 1996
Sauk County has been included in 15 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 |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Sauk County
Sauk County had 36,498 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,177 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Baraboo itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Baraboo
8 public schools with 2,591 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baraboo High | 9-12 | 935 | 14.6 |
| Jack Young Middle | 6-8 | 571 | 11.2 |
| East Elementary | PK-5 | 345 | 12.3 |
| Willson Elementary | K-5 | 292 | 12.2 |
| Al Behrman Elementary | K-5 | 282 | 11.8 |
| Baraboo Early Learning Cooperative | PK-PK | 108 | 27.0 |
| West Elementary-Kindergarten Center | PK-K | 41 | 6.8 |
| BELC--Renewal Head Start | PK-PK | 17 | 17.0 |
Towns near Baraboo
- Lake Delton, WI8.8 mi · 3,501 people · home $178,300
- Lake Wisconsin, WI10.1 mi · 4,616 people · home $452,400
- Wisconsin Dells, WI11.9 mi · 2,942 people · home $207,100
- Prairie du Sac, WI12.0 mi · 4,420 people · home $321,300
- Sauk City, WI13.5 mi · 3,518 people · home $291,400
- Lodi, WI13.5 mi · 3,282 people · home $441,500
- Reedsburg, WI13.7 mi · 9,984 people · home $229,100
- Lodi, WI14.5 mi · 3,189 people · home $328,200
Baraboo questions
Is Baraboo, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Baraboo scores better for retirees than 35% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 14%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Baraboo?
The median owner-occupied home in Baraboo is valued at $222,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,750, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $940 a month.
What is the weather like in Baraboo?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 9.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.9 inches of precipitation a year and 42.7 inches of snow.
Does Baraboo get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baraboo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 18, 2005. 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)