The Town FilesCenter, Wisconsin
Town in Rock County · population 1,046 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $349,100
- Household income
- $112,222
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 47.6
Center is a town of 1,046 people in Rock County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $349,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 86% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 76% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 72% of Wisconsin towns.
How Center 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 Center is worth $349,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $112,222, which is more affordable than 55% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,196 a month. 87.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Center | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $349,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,196 | $951 |
| Median household income | $112,222 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 87.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Center
| People | Center | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Center
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 37.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Center since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 24, 1967 about 3.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 47 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 4, 1975.
Severe weather in Rock County since 1996
Rock County has been included in 16 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 |
| 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 |
| March 19, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3285: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Rock County
Rock County had 69,595 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,381 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Center itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Towns near Center
- Footville, WI3.3 mi · 772 people · home $160,800
- Magnolia, WI6.5 mi · 742 people · home $216,800
- Porter, WI6.6 mi · 969 people · home $439,000
- Plymouth, WI6.6 mi · 1,245 people · home $311,200
- Orfordville, WI7.0 mi · 1,473 people · home $194,900
- Evansville, WI7.1 mi · 5,703 people · home $276,400
- Fulton, WI7.8 mi · 3,580 people · home $343,700
- Rock, WI8.0 mi · 2,981 people · home $262,600
Center questions
Is Center, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Center scores better for retirees than 76% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 69%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.6).
How much does a house cost in Center?
The median owner-occupied home in Center is valued at $349,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $112,222, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,196 a month.
What is the weather like in Center?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.4 inches of precipitation a year and 36.6 inches of snow.
Does Center get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Center since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 24, 1967. 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)