The Town FilesFranzen, Wisconsin
Town in Marathon County · population 553 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $207,600
- Household income
- $71,591
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 58 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 54.1
Franzen is a town of 553 people in Marathon County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $207,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 89% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 73% of Wisconsin towns.
How Franzen 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 Franzen is worth $207,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $71,591, which is more affordable than 68% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $693 a month. 81.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franzen | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $207,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $693 | $951 |
| Median household income | $71,591 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 81.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Franzen
| People | Franzen | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Franzen
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 57.5 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 Franzen since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 7, 2007 about 7.7 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 13 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 8, 2000.
Severe weather in Marathon County since 1996
Marathon County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Marathon County
Marathon County had 70,626 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,976 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Franzen itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Franzen
- Bevent, WI6.0 mi · 1,049 people · home $279,300
- Alban, WI6.5 mi · 863 people · home $237,800
- Elderon, WI7.0 mi · 644 people · home $213,900
- Reid, WI8.3 mi · 1,186 people · home $190,900
- Wittenberg, WI8.3 mi · 823 people · home $220,500
- Sharon, WI8.9 mi · 2,123 people · home $322,200
- Wittenberg, WI9.4 mi · 1,015 people · home $138,500
- Hatley, WI11.2 mi · 648 people · home $213,000
Franzen questions
Is Franzen, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franzen scores better for retirees than 48% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 89%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.1).
How much does a house cost in Franzen?
The median owner-occupied home in Franzen is valued at $207,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,591, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $693 a month.
What is the weather like in Franzen?
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 57.5 inches of snow.
Does Franzen get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franzen since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 7, 2007. 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)