The Town FilesDecatur, Wisconsin
Town in Green County · population 1,685 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $300,000
- Household income
- $101,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 46.7
Decatur is a town of 1,685 people in Green County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $300,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 73% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 72% of Wisconsin towns.
How Decatur 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 Decatur is worth $300,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $101,167, which is more affordable than 62% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,069 a month. 89.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Decatur | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $300,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,069 | $951 |
| Median household income | $101,167 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 89.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Decatur
| People | Decatur | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 29.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 89.1% |
Weather in Decatur
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 10.5°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 16, 1967 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 4, 1975.
Severe weather in Green County since 1996
Green County has been included in 17 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 |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 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 Green County
Green County had 15,543 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,430 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Decatur itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Towns near Decatur
- Brodhead, WI3.3 mi · 3,274 people · home $168,800
- Albany, WI4.4 mi · 1,096 people · home $173,200
- Albany, WI5.7 mi · 1,189 people · home $334,500
- Sylvester, WI5.9 mi · 1,001 people · home $347,700
- Spring Valley, WI6.1 mi · 728 people · home $366,700
- Spring Grove, WI6.6 mi · 919 people · home $260,500
- Magnolia, WI7.6 mi · 742 people · home $216,800
- Jefferson, WI8.4 mi · 1,170 people · home $231,300
Decatur questions
Is Decatur, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Decatur scores better for retirees than 38% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 31%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.7).
How much does a house cost in Decatur?
The median owner-occupied home in Decatur is valued at $300,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,167, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,069 a month.
What is the weather like in Decatur?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 10.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 37.3 inches of snow.
Does Decatur get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decatur since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 16, 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)