The Town FilesBrussels, Wisconsin
Town in Door County · population 1,125 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $278,200
- Household income
- $100,700
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 34.9
Brussels is a town of 1,125 people in Door County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $278,200, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Wisconsin towns, more of a college town than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for families than 93% of Wisconsin towns.
How Brussels 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 Brussels is worth $278,200, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $100,700, which is more affordable than 74% of Wisconsin towns. 85.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brussels | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $278,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $100,700 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 85.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.8% | — |
Who lives in Brussels
| People | Brussels | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Brussels
July highs average 77.0°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 30.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brussels since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 8, 1985 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 13, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 17, 1992.
Severe weather in Door County since 1996
Door County has been included in 6 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 24, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3163: Snow |
| June 17, 1976 | Drought | EM-3014: Drought |
Jobs and pay in Door County
Door County had 14,223 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,594 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Brussels itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Brussels
3 public schools with 991 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Door Elementary | PK-5 | 467 | 11.7 |
| Southern Door High | 9-12 | 315 | 11.7 |
| Southern Door Middle | 6-8 | 209 | 10.0 |
Towns near Brussels
- Union, WI5.5 mi · 1,005 people · home $358,600
- Lincoln, WI6.0 mi · 932 people · home $198,800
- Red River, WI6.2 mi · 1,374 people · home $316,000
- Forestville, WI7.1 mi · 1,063 people · home $223,700
- Ahnapee, WI8.3 mi · 870 people · home $251,700
- Gardner, WI9.5 mi · 1,218 people · home $406,100
- Algoma, WI10.1 mi · 3,243 people · home $153,300
- Nasewaupee, WI10.4 mi · 1,984 people · home $294,000
Brussels questions
Is Brussels, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brussels scores better for retirees than 70% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 43%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Brussels?
The median owner-occupied home in Brussels is valued at $278,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,700, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Brussels?
July highs average 77.0°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.1 inches of precipitation a year and 52.7 inches of snow.
Does Brussels get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brussels since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 8, 1985. 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)