The Town FilesBrowns Lake, Wisconsin
Community in Racine County · population 1,879 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $334,200
- Household income
- $129,196
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 53.1
Browns Lake is a community of 1,879 people in Racine County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $334,200, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 88% of Wisconsin towns, better transit than 87% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 83% of Wisconsin towns.
How Browns Lake 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 Browns Lake is worth $334,200, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $129,196, which is more affordable than 83% of Wisconsin towns. 100.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Browns Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $334,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $129,196 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 100.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 27.3% | — |
Who lives in Browns Lake
| People | Browns Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Browns Lake
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Browns Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on January 7, 2008 about 7.4 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 45 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Racine County since 1996
Racine County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| March 11, 2020 | Flood | DR-4477: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Racine County
Racine County had 76,342 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,150 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Browns Lake itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Towns near Browns Lake
- Burlington, WI2.0 mi · 11,047 people · home $276,600
- Burlington, WI2.5 mi · 6,465 people · home $302,800
- Rochester, WI3.1 mi · 3,785 people · home $375,700
- Bohners Lake, WI5.2 mi · 2,374 people · home $266,800
- Waterford, WI5.4 mi · 5,542 people · home $329,800
- Eagle Lake, WI5.5 mi · 1,251 people · home $271,400
- Dover, WI6.3 mi · 4,282 people · home $299,700
- Brighton, WI6.7 mi · 1,422 people · home $480,100
Browns Lake questions
Is Browns Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Browns Lake scores better for retirees than 34% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 14%. 34.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.1).
How much does a house cost in Browns Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Browns Lake is valued at $334,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $129,196, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Browns Lake?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 37.7 inches of snow.
Does Browns Lake get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Browns Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on January 7, 2008. 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)