The Town FilesEaton, Wisconsin
Town in Manitowoc County · population 814 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $270,900
- Household income
- $94,063
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 53.2
Eaton is a town of 814 people in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $270,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better transit than 91% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 83% of Wisconsin towns, more of a college town than 79% of Wisconsin towns.
How Eaton 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 Eaton is worth $270,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $94,063, which is more affordable than 68% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $883 a month. 93.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Eaton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $270,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $883 | $951 |
| Median household income | $94,063 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 93.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Eaton
| People | Eaton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Eaton
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
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eaton since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 4, 1981 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 16, 2008.
Severe weather in Manitowoc County since 1996
Manitowoc County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| 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 Manitowoc County
Manitowoc County had 33,444 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,550 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Eaton itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Eaton
- St. Nazianz, WI2.8 mi · 714 people · home $139,200
- Charlestown, WI4.8 mi · 774 people · home $281,100
- Valders, WI5.4 mi · 952 people · home $170,500
- Liberty, WI5.6 mi · 1,245 people · home $283,200
- Schleswig, WI5.8 mi · 1,912 people · home $344,500
- Rockland, WI6.1 mi · 995 people · home $242,300
- New Holstein, WI7.9 mi · 3,195 people · home $178,700
- Kiel, WI7.9 mi · 3,932 people · home $191,500
Eaton questions
Is Eaton, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Eaton scores better for retirees than 22% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 62%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.2).
How much does a house cost in Eaton?
The median owner-occupied home in Eaton is valued at $270,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,063, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $883 a month.
What is the weather like in Eaton?
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 Eaton get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eaton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 4, 1981. 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)