The Town FilesEmerald, Wisconsin
Town in St. Croix County · population 831 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $299,100
- Household income
- $100,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 48.7
Emerald is a town of 831 people in St. Croix County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $299,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 82% of Wisconsin towns, better transit than 80% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 79% of Wisconsin towns.
How Emerald 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 Emerald is worth $299,100, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $100,000, which is more affordable than 62% of Wisconsin towns. 97.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Emerald | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $299,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $100,000 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 97.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.1% | — |
Who lives in Emerald
| People | Emerald | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Emerald
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 1.8°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emerald since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 30, 1977 about 7.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 11, 1980.
Severe weather in St. Croix County since 1996
St. Croix County has been included in 11 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 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4141: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Croix County
St. Croix County had 36,959 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,261 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Emerald itself the ACS puts it at 0.4%.
Towns near Emerald
- Glenwood, WI5.0 mi · 747 people · home $339,500
- Cylon, WI5.4 mi · 708 people · home $328,600
- Erin Prairie, WI5.8 mi · 673 people · home $387,300
- Baldwin, WI5.9 mi · 1,047 people · home $378,000
- Forest, WI6.5 mi · 638 people · home $403,500
- Glenwood City, WI7.3 mi · 1,306 people · home $176,700
- Springfield, WI7.9 mi · 993 people · home $309,500
- Hammond, WI9.0 mi · 2,565 people · home $406,300
Emerald questions
Is Emerald, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Emerald scores better for retirees than 17% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 31%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.7).
How much does a house cost in Emerald?
The median owner-occupied home in Emerald is valued at $299,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,000, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Emerald?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 1.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 43.4 inches of snow.
Does Emerald get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emerald since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 30, 1977. 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)