The Town FilesDorchester, Wisconsin
Village in Clark County · population 849 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $156,000
- Household income
- $60,536
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 34.5
Dorchester is a village of 849 people in Clark County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $156,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 78% of Wisconsin towns.
How Dorchester 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 Dorchester is worth $156,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $60,536, which is more affordable than 83% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $837 a month. 63.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dorchester | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $837 | $951 |
| Median household income | $60,536 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 63.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Dorchester
| People | Dorchester | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 17.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Dorchester
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 2.3°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dorchester since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 4, 1958 about 8.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 28, 2023.
Severe weather in Clark County since 1996
Clark County has been included in 15 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 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 20, 2016 | Flood | DR-4288: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Clark County
Clark County had 11,379 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,135 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Dorchester itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Towns near Dorchester
- Mayville, WI2.8 mi · 963 people · home $222,600
- Abbotsford, WI4.1 mi · 2,275 people · home $151,500
- Holton, WI4.1 mi · 859 people · home $217,600
- Little Black, WI5.1 mi · 1,156 people · home $180,100
- Stetsonville, WI5.3 mi · 563 people · home $182,500
- Colby, WI6.3 mi · 1,952 people · home $184,700
- Deer Creek, WI7.0 mi · 677 people · home $184,700
- Colby, WI7.7 mi · 922 people · home $193,300
Dorchester questions
Is Dorchester, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dorchester scores better for retirees than 3% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 7%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.5).
How much does a house cost in Dorchester?
The median owner-occupied home in Dorchester is valued at $156,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,536, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $837 a month.
What is the weather like in Dorchester?
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 2.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 57.0 inches of snow.
Does Dorchester get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dorchester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 4, 1958. 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)