The Town FilesBuena Vista, Wisconsin
Town in Portage County · population 1,145 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $290,500
- Household income
- $68,472
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 51.5
Buena Vista is a town of 1,145 people in Portage County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $290,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 88% of Wisconsin towns, more of a college town than 75% of Wisconsin towns.
How Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista is worth $290,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $68,472, which is more affordable than 9% of Wisconsin towns. 97.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buena Vista | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $290,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $68,472 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 97.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Buena Vista
| People | Buena Vista | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.0% | 89.1% |
Weather in Buena Vista
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 7.1°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buena Vista since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 26, 1951 about 8.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 22, 2011.
Severe weather in Portage County since 1996
Portage County has been included in 12 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 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Portage County
Portage County had 33,088 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,889 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Buena Vista itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Buena Vista
- Bancroft, WI4.9 mi · 526 people · home $98,200
- Almond, WI5.6 mi · 625 people · home $277,800
- Pine Grove, WI6.8 mi · 873 people · home $113,600
- Plover, WI7.4 mi · 13,519 people · home $269,800
- Plover, WI7.5 mi · 1,565 people · home $316,500
- Stockton, WI8.3 mi · 3,018 people · home $290,100
- Lanark, WI9.0 mi · 1,535 people · home $258,600
- Whiting, WI9.6 mi · 1,601 people · home $220,000
Buena Vista questions
Is Buena Vista, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buena Vista scores better for retirees than 66% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 61%. 29.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.5).
How much does a house cost in Buena Vista?
The median owner-occupied home in Buena Vista is valued at $290,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,472, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Buena Vista?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 7.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 47.5 inches of snow.
Does Buena Vista get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buena Vista since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 26, 1951. 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)