The Town FilesBelle Plaine, Wisconsin
Town in Shawano County · population 1,800 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $279,000
- Household income
- $74,779
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 47.8
Belle Plaine is a town of 1,800 people in Shawano County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $279,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 91% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 81% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 78% of Wisconsin towns.
How Belle Plaine 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 Belle Plaine is worth $279,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $74,779, which is more affordable than 23% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,344 a month. 92.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Belle Plaine | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $279,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,344 | $951 |
| Median household income | $74,779 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 92.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 20.4% | — |
Who lives in Belle Plaine
| People | Belle Plaine | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Belle Plaine
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 6.2°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belle Plaine since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 27, 1984 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 6, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 27, 2026.
Severe weather in Shawano County since 1996
Shawano County has been included in 8 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 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Shawano County
Shawano County had 12,343 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,528 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Belle Plaine itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Towns near Belle Plaine
- Shawano, WI5.3 mi · 9,243 people · home $160,800
- Richmond, WI5.6 mi · 1,832 people · home $245,800
- Pella, WI6.0 mi · 899 people · home $183,900
- Matteson, WI6.2 mi · 914 people · home $232,200
- Waukechon, WI6.5 mi · 1,002 people · home $253,100
- Herman, WI7.9 mi · 739 people · home $174,600
- Wescott, WI8.2 mi · 3,257 people · home $219,100
- Clintonville, WI8.4 mi · 4,591 people · home $112,000
Belle Plaine questions
Is Belle Plaine, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Belle Plaine scores better for retirees than 54% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 91%. 27.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.8).
How much does a house cost in Belle Plaine?
The median owner-occupied home in Belle Plaine is valued at $279,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,779, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,344 a month.
What is the weather like in Belle Plaine?
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 6.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 47.9 inches of snow.
Does Belle Plaine get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Belle Plaine since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 27, 1984. 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)