The Town FilesEmpire, Wisconsin
Town in Fond du Lac County · population 2,774 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $378,600
- Household income
- $125,185
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 51.1
Empire is a town of 2,774 people in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $378,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns, more upscale than 96% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 86% of Wisconsin towns.
How Empire 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 Empire is worth $378,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $125,185, which is more affordable than 62% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $884 a month. 94.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Empire | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $378,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $884 | $951 |
| Median household income | $125,185 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 94.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Empire
| People | Empire | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Empire
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 9.2°F. About 31.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Empire since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on July 18, 1996 about 3.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 21 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on July 1, 2026.
Severe weather in Fond du Lac County since 1996
Fond du Lac County has been included in 12 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 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 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 Fond du Lac County
Fond du Lac County had 45,047 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,238 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Empire itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Towns near Empire
- Fond du Lac, WI5.2 mi · 44,678 people · home $173,700
- Taycheedah, WI5.8 mi · 4,554 people · home $354,000
- North Fond du Lac, WI8.4 mi · 5,378 people · home $155,100
- Friendship, WI9.4 mi · 2,748 people · home $236,100
- Lomira, WI12.1 mi · 2,678 people · home $235,400
- Kewaskum, WI17.1 mi · 4,309 people · home $288,800
- Plymouth, WI17.7 mi · 3,083 people · home $310,200
- New Holstein, WI18.2 mi · 3,195 people · home $178,700
Empire questions
Is Empire, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Empire scores better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 56%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.1).
How much does a house cost in Empire?
The median owner-occupied home in Empire is valued at $378,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $125,185, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $884 a month.
What is the weather like in Empire?
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 9.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.4 inches of precipitation a year and 38.0 inches of snow.
Does Empire get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Empire since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on July 18, 1996. 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)