The Town FilesFountain Prairie, Wisconsin
Town in Columbia County · population 938 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $406,900
- Household income
- $105,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 44.4
Fountain Prairie is a town of 938 people in Columbia County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $406,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more of a college town than 85% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 77% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 77% of Wisconsin towns.
How Fountain Prairie 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 Fountain Prairie is worth $406,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $105,750, which is more affordable than 19% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,333 a month. 95.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fountain Prairie | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $406,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,333 | $951 |
| Median household income | $105,750 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 95.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Fountain Prairie
| People | Fountain Prairie | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Fountain Prairie
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 43.0 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 Fountain Prairie since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 26, 1951 about 7.5 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 28 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 3, 2004.
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 Fountain Prairie itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Fountain Prairie
- Fall River, WI2.2 mi · 1,801 people · home $243,700
- Calamus, WI5.5 mi · 1,043 people · home $371,000
- Columbus, WI5.7 mi · 5,540 people · home $230,600
- Columbus, WI6.4 mi · 626 people · home $355,300
- Otsego, WI6.9 mi · 670 people · home $371,900
- Westford, WI8.0 mi · 1,313 people · home $288,200
- Elba, WI8.1 mi · 1,041 people · home $352,500
- Hampden, WI8.5 mi · 581 people · home $367,900
Fountain Prairie questions
Is Fountain Prairie, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fountain Prairie scores better for retirees than 47% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 18%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.4).
How much does a house cost in Fountain Prairie?
The median owner-occupied home in Fountain Prairie is valued at $406,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,750, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,333 a month.
What is the weather like in Fountain Prairie?
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 43.0 inches of snow.
Does Fountain Prairie get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fountain Prairie 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)