The Town FilesFairbanks, Wisconsin
Town in Shawano County · population 538 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,800
- Household income
- $55,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 46.5
Fairbanks is a town of 538 people in Shawano County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $168,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 77% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 75% of Wisconsin towns.
How Fairbanks 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 Fairbanks is worth $168,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $55,417, which is more affordable than 62% of Wisconsin towns. 94.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fairbanks | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $55,417 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 94.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.1% | — |
Who lives in Fairbanks
| People | Fairbanks | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 35.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Fairbanks
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 6.8°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 178 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairbanks since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 27, 1984 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 20, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 1, 2018.
Severe weather in Shawano County since 1996
Shawano County has been included in 8 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Shawano County
Shawano County had 12,343 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,528 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Fairbanks itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Towns near Fairbanks
- Tigerton, WI1.6 mi · 708 people · home $124,100
- Grant, WI5.7 mi · 976 people · home $208,000
- Marion, WI7.6 mi · 1,324 people · home $104,200
- Wittenberg, WI8.0 mi · 823 people · home $220,500
- Dupont, WI8.2 mi · 746 people · home $232,400
- Wittenberg, WI9.6 mi · 1,015 people · home $138,500
- Helvetia, WI12.0 mi · 701 people · home $186,400
- Almon, WI12.4 mi · 575 people · home $176,800
Fairbanks questions
Is Fairbanks, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fairbanks scores better for retirees than 13% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 77%. 25.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.5).
How much does a house cost in Fairbanks?
The median owner-occupied home in Fairbanks is valued at $168,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,417, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Fairbanks?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 6.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 45.6 inches of snow.
Does Fairbanks get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fairbanks since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 27, 1984. 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)