The Town FilesBlack Earth, Wisconsin
Town in Dane County · population 510 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $477,800
- Household income
- $136,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 50.0
Black Earth is a town of 510 people in Dane County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $477,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 87% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Wisconsin towns.
How Black Earth 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 Black Earth is worth $477,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $136,667, which is more affordable than 32% of Wisconsin towns. 89.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Black Earth | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $477,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $136,667 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 89.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Black Earth
| People | Black Earth | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 21.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Black Earth
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 7.1°F. About 35.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Black Earth since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 7, 1984 about 4.2 miles from the town center and killed 9. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 201 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Dane County since 1996
Dane County has been included in 19 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 |
| 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 Dane County
Dane County had 359,249 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $74,481 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Black Earth itself the ACS puts it at 10.2%.
Towns near Black Earth
- Mazomanie, WI2.4 mi · 1,768 people · home $289,400
- Black Earth, WI3.0 mi · 1,493 people · home $290,800
- Vermont, WI4.1 mi · 871 people · home $586,500
- Mazomanie, WI4.7 mi · 1,074 people · home $409,700
- Arena, WI5.4 mi · 844 people · home $194,400
- Arena, WI6.3 mi · 1,486 people · home $320,900
- Berry, WI7.2 mi · 1,168 people · home $456,400
- Cross Plains, WI8.2 mi · 4,104 people · home $376,500
Black Earth questions
Is Black Earth, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Black Earth scores better for retirees than 93% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 68%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.0).
How much does a house cost in Black Earth?
The median owner-occupied home in Black Earth is valued at $477,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $136,667, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Black Earth?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 7.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 30.0 inches of snow.
Does Black Earth get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Black Earth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 7, 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)