The Town FilesFox Lake, Wisconsin
City in Dodge County · population 1,604 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,900
- Household income
- $75,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 37.4
Fox Lake is a city of 1,604 people in Dodge County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $174,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 89% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 88% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 85% of Wisconsin towns.
How Fox Lake 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 Fox Lake is worth $174,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $75,000, which is more affordable than 92% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,253 a month. 53.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fox Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,253 | $951 |
| Median household income | $75,000 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 53.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fox Lake
| People | Fox Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Fox Lake
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 43.3 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
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fox Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 26, 1951 about 8.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 38 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 29, 1984.
Severe weather in Dodge County since 1996
Dodge County has been included in 13 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 |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 19, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3285: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Dodge County
Dodge County had 36,662 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,552 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Fox Lake itself the ACS puts it at 0.3%.
Public schools in Fox Lake
1 public school with 105 students, about 9.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| School for Agricultural and Environmental Studies (charter) | PK-6 | 105 | 9.5 |
Towns near Fox Lake
- Fox Lake, WI2.6 mi · 2,588 people · home $364,200
- Trenton, WI3.9 mi · 1,219 people · home $294,400
- Westford, WI4.6 mi · 1,313 people · home $288,200
- Randolph, WI4.7 mi · 1,796 people · home $176,800
- Randolph, WI7.0 mi · 762 people · home $269,000
- Beaver Dam, WI7.4 mi · 16,708 people · home $201,900
- Alto, WI9.3 mi · 1,055 people · home $250,500
- Beaver Dam, WI9.5 mi · 4,062 people · home $261,400
Fox Lake questions
Is Fox Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fox Lake scores better for retirees than 89% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 32%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Fox Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Fox Lake is valued at $174,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,000, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,253 a month.
What is the weather like in Fox Lake?
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 43.3 inches of snow.
Does Fox Lake get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fox Lake 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)