The Town FilesBenton, Wisconsin
Village in Lafayette County · population 946 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,400
- Household income
- $80,938
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 40.7
Benton is a village of 946 people in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $157,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of Wisconsin towns.
How Benton 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 Benton is worth $157,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $80,938, which is more affordable than 98% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $889 a month. 79.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,400 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $889 | $951 |
| Median household income | $80,938 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 79.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Benton
| People | Benton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Benton
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 10.0°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 8, 1988 about 7.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 24, 2009.
Severe weather in Lafayette County since 1996
Lafayette County has been included in 14 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 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lafayette County
Lafayette County had 5,068 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,347 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Benton itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Benton
3 public schools with 218 students, about 9.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton Elementary | PK-6 | 132 | 10.2 |
| Benton High | 9-12 | 59 | 8.4 |
| Benton Middle | 7-8 | 27 | 13.5 |
Towns near Benton
- Cuba City, WI3.4 mi · 2,138 people · home $188,600
- Hazel Green, WI3.6 mi · 1,173 people · home $165,700
- Hazel Green, WI5.4 mi · 1,084 people · home $254,300
- Smelser, WI7.1 mi · 786 people · home $261,000
- Shullsburg, WI7.6 mi · 1,173 people · home $148,800
- Elk Grove, WI7.8 mi · 566 people · home $270,800
- Galena, IL10.5 mi · 3,308 people · home $233,200
- Jamestown, WI10.8 mi · 2,181 people · home $241,200
Benton questions
Is Benton, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benton scores better for retirees than 19% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 31%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Benton?
The median owner-occupied home in Benton is valued at $157,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,938, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $889 a month.
What is the weather like in Benton?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 10.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 39.6 inches of snow.
Does Benton get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 8, 1988. 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)