The Town FilesClifton, Wisconsin
Town in Monroe County · population 733 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $319,600
- Household income
- $69,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 22.9
Clifton is a town of 733 people in Monroe County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $319,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000).
How Clifton 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 Clifton is worth $319,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $69,000, which is more affordable than 5% of Wisconsin towns. 81.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clifton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $319,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $69,000 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 81.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.3% | — |
Who lives in Clifton
| People | Clifton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 22.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 44.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 31.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 57.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Clifton
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 7.1°F. About 37.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clifton since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 19, 1957 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 5, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 1, 2000.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 15 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 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 21,455 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,839 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Clifton itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Towns near Clifton
- Oakdale, WI4.6 mi · 754 people · home $233,000
- Wilton, WI5.9 mi · 963 people · home $271,900
- Glendale, WI6.0 mi · 663 people · home $301,400
- Fountain, WI6.1 mi · 592 people · home $287,500
- Camp Douglas, WI6.8 mi · 647 people · home $131,600
- Wilton, WI8.2 mi · 532 people · home $166,800
- Tomah, WI8.2 mi · 1,488 people · home $312,400
- Plymouth, WI8.2 mi · 578 people · home $309,200
Clifton questions
Is Clifton, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clifton scores better for retirees than 15% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 40%. 13.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 22.9).
How much does a house cost in Clifton?
The median owner-occupied home in Clifton is valued at $319,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,000, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Clifton?
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 7.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.3 inches of precipitation a year and 40.5 inches of snow.
Does Clifton get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clifton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 19, 1957. 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)