The Town FilesElkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Village in Sheboygan County · population 941 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $328,300
- Household income
- $94,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 62.5
Elkhart Lake is a village of 941 people in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $328,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns.
How Elkhart Lake 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 Elkhart Lake is worth $328,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $94,250, which is more affordable than 32% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,000 a month. 76.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elkhart Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $328,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,000 | $951 |
| Median household income | $94,250 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 76.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 26.4% | — |
Who lives in Elkhart Lake
| People | Elkhart Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 41.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 8.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 16.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 19.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 89.1% |
Weather in Elkhart Lake
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 33.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elkhart Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 21, 1974 about 5.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on July 1, 2026.
Severe weather in Sheboygan County since 1996
Sheboygan County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Sheboygan County
Sheboygan County had 61,178 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,379 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Elkhart Lake itself the ACS puts it at 9.9%.
Public schools in Elkhart Lake
2 public schools with 511 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart Lake Elementary/Middle | PK-8 | 351 | 14.0 |
| Elkhart Lake High | 9-12 | 160 | 13.3 |
Towns near Elkhart Lake
- Rhine, WI2.7 mi · 2,139 people · home $353,100
- Plymouth, WI4.8 mi · 3,083 people · home $310,200
- Greenbush, WI5.8 mi · 1,903 people · home $293,900
- Kiel, WI5.9 mi · 3,932 people · home $191,500
- Plymouth, WI6.4 mi · 8,932 people · home $213,300
- Herman, WI7.7 mi · 2,162 people · home $295,100
- New Holstein, WI7.7 mi · 1,534 people · home $297,900
- Schleswig, WI7.8 mi · 1,912 people · home $344,500
Elkhart Lake questions
Is Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elkhart Lake scores better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 45%. 41.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.5).
How much does a house cost in Elkhart Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Elkhart Lake is valued at $328,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,250, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,000 a month.
What is the weather like in Elkhart Lake?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 44.7 inches of snow.
Does Elkhart Lake get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elkhart Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 21, 1974. 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)