The Town FilesChilton, Wisconsin
City in Calumet County · population 4,080 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,900
- Household income
- $82,923
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 39.4
Chilton is a city of 4,080 people in Calumet County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $161,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 88% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 84% of Wisconsin towns.
How Chilton 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 Chilton is worth $161,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $82,923, which is more affordable than 97% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $964 a month. 65.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chilton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $964 | $951 |
| Median household income | $82,923 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 65.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Chilton
| People | Chilton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Chilton
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chilton since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 18, 1996 about 7.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 29, 1998.
Severe weather in Calumet County since 1996
Calumet County has been included in 11 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 |
| August 11, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1933: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Calumet County
Calumet County had 16,250 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,037 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Chilton itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Chilton
3 public schools with 1,073 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chilton High | 9-12 | 385 | 15.4 |
| Chilton Elementary | PK-4 | 379 | 14.6 |
| Chilton Middle | 5-8 | 309 | 13.4 |
Towns near Chilton
- New Holstein, WI6.5 mi · 3,195 people · home $178,700
- Kiel, WI10.4 mi · 3,932 people · home $191,500
- Brillion, WI10.9 mi · 3,262 people · home $198,900
- Sherwood, WI11.6 mi · 3,271 people · home $351,200
- Harrison, WI13.0 mi · 12,418 people · home $348,500
- Taycheedah, WI16.0 mi · 4,554 people · home $354,000
- Buchanan, WI16.9 mi · 6,857 people · home $335,400
- Combined Locks, WI17.5 mi · 3,634 people · home $246,000
Chilton questions
Is Chilton, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chilton scores better for retirees than 5% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 51%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Chilton?
The median owner-occupied home in Chilton is valued at $161,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,923, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $964 a month.
What is the weather like in Chilton?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 43.5 inches of snow.
Does Chilton get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chilton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 18, 1996. 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)