The Town FilesFall River, Wisconsin
Village in Columbia County · population 1,801 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $243,700
- Household income
- $72,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 37.0
Fall River is a village of 1,801 people in Columbia County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $243,700, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more of a college town than 86% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 77% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 77% of Wisconsin towns.
How Fall River 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 Fall River is worth $243,700, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $72,167, which is more affordable than 37% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,190 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fall River | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $243,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,190 | $951 |
| Median household income | $72,167 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fall River
| People | Fall River | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Fall River
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 8.2°F. About 37.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fall River since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 26, 1951 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 37 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 15, 1956.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, 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 |
| August 26, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1719: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 21,963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,667 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Fall River itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Fall River
2 public schools with 496 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall River High | 6-12 | 267 | 13.4 |
| Fall River Elementary | PK-5 | 229 | 12.1 |
Towns near Fall River
- Fountain Prairie, WI2.2 mi · 938 people · home $406,900
- Columbus, WI3.5 mi · 5,540 people · home $230,600
- Columbus, WI4.4 mi · 626 people · home $355,300
- Calamus, WI5.4 mi · 1,043 people · home $371,000
- Elba, WI6.2 mi · 1,041 people · home $352,500
- Otsego, WI7.5 mi · 670 people · home $371,900
- Hampden, WI7.6 mi · 581 people · home $367,900
- Westford, WI9.4 mi · 1,313 people · home $288,200
Fall River questions
Is Fall River, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fall River scores better for retirees than 47% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 18%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Fall River?
The median owner-occupied home in Fall River is valued at $243,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,167, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,190 a month.
What is the weather like in Fall River?
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 8.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.8 inches of precipitation a year and 43.1 inches of snow.
Does Fall River get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fall River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 26, 1951. 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)