The Town FilesDakota, Wisconsin
Town in Waushara County · population 1,143 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $175,000
- Household income
- $80,600
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 47.0
Dakota is a town of 1,143 people in Waushara County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $175,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better transit than 87% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 80% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 78% of Wisconsin towns.
How Dakota 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 Dakota is worth $175,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $80,600, which is more affordable than 94% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $877 a month. 83.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dakota | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $175,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $877 | $951 |
| Median household income | $80,600 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 83.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 24.0% | — |
Who lives in Dakota
| People | Dakota | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 12.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Dakota
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 6.9°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dakota since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 29, 1992 about 4.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 34 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 12, 2000.
Severe weather in Waushara County since 1996
Waushara County has been included in 10 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 19, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1429: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Waushara County
Waushara County had 5,903 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,716 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Dakota itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Towns near Dakota
- Wautoma, WI2.8 mi · 2,209 people · home $131,600
- Richford, WI4.4 mi · 737 people · home $267,900
- Wautoma, WI5.3 mi · 1,270 people · home $214,000
- Marion, WI7.1 mi · 2,020 people · home $269,300
- Deerfield, WI7.5 mi · 667 people · home $257,800
- Newton, WI7.7 mi · 529 people · home $244,700
- Mount Morris, WI8.7 mi · 1,096 people · home $260,900
- Neshkoro, WI8.7 mi · 565 people · home $239,900
Dakota questions
Is Dakota, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dakota scores better for retirees than 78% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 60%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.0).
How much does a house cost in Dakota?
The median owner-occupied home in Dakota is valued at $175,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,600, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $877 a month.
What is the weather like in Dakota?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 6.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 46.4 inches of snow.
Does Dakota get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dakota since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 29, 1992. 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)