The Town FilesBig Bend, Wisconsin
Village in Waukesha County · population 1,483 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $323,500
- Household income
- $134,615
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 42.2
Big Bend is a village of 1,483 people in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $323,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more upscale than 95% of Wisconsin towns, better for families than 92% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 86% of Wisconsin towns.
How Big 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 Big Bend is worth $323,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $134,615, which is more affordable than 90% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,125 a month. 91.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Big Bend | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $323,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,125 | $951 |
| Median household income | $134,615 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 91.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Big Bend
| People | Big Bend | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Big Bend
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 36.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Bend since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 5, 1977 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on August 2, 2015.
Severe weather in Waukesha County since 1996
Waukesha County has been included in 19 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 |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Waukesha County
Waukesha County had 247,891 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,989 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Big Bend itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Big Bend
1 public school with 488 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bend Elementary | PK-6 | 488 | 14.4 |
Towns near Big Bend
- Muskego, WI3.6 mi · 25,032 people · home $417,400
- Wind Lake, WI4.6 mi · 5,355 people · home $386,100
- Tichigan, WI5.0 mi · 5,277 people · home $445,800
- Mukwonago, WI6.3 mi · 8,262 people · home $366,200
- Waterford, WI6.6 mi · 6,514 people · home $424,300
- New Berlin, WI7.2 mi · 40,451 people · home $365,700
- Norway, WI7.3 mi · 7,916 people · home $412,700
- Waterford, WI8.2 mi · 5,542 people · home $329,800
Big Bend questions
Is Big Bend, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Big Bend scores better for retirees than 69% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 72%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Big Bend?
The median owner-occupied home in Big Bend is valued at $323,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $134,615, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,125 a month.
What is the weather like in Big Bend?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.0 inches of precipitation a year and 36.9 inches of snow.
Does Big Bend get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Bend since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 5, 1977. 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)