The Town FilesFort Winnebago, Wisconsin
Town in Columbia County · population 812 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,400
- Household income
- $86,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 51.8
Fort Winnebago is a town of 812 people in Columbia County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $257,400, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 75% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 74% of Wisconsin towns.
How Fort Winnebago 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 Fort Winnebago is worth $257,400, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $86,250, which is more affordable than 62% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,536 a month. 92.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Winnebago | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,400 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,536 | $951 |
| Median household income | $86,250 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 92.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.1% | — |
Who lives in Fort Winnebago
| People | Fort Winnebago | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Fort Winnebago
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Winnebago since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 7, 2008 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 14, 2026.
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 Fort Winnebago itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Towns near Fort Winnebago
- Portage, WI4.6 mi · 10,581 people · home $204,900
- Moundville, WI5.1 mi · 526 people · home $252,100
- Marcellon, WI5.8 mi · 1,140 people · home $317,100
- Pacific, WI6.7 mi · 2,791 people · home $285,600
- Buffalo, WI7.2 mi · 1,389 people · home $253,800
- Lewiston, WI7.2 mi · 1,262 people · home $244,100
- Pardeeville, WI7.8 mi · 2,074 people · home $230,400
- Douglas, WI8.2 mi · 784 people · home $284,100
Fort Winnebago questions
Is Fort Winnebago, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Winnebago scores better for retirees than 55% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 74%. 29.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.8).
How much does a house cost in Fort Winnebago?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Winnebago is valued at $257,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,250, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,536 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Winnebago?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 39.3 inches of snow.
Does Fort Winnebago get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Winnebago since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 7, 2008. 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)