The Town FilesGale, Wisconsin
Town in Trempealeau County · population 1,708 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $296,400
- Household income
- $105,313
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 49.3
Gale is a town of 1,708 people in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $296,400, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more of a college town than 76% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 73% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 73% of Wisconsin towns.
How Gale 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 Gale is worth $296,400, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $105,313, which is more affordable than 74% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,179 a month. 89.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gale | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $296,400 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,179 | $951 |
| Median household income | $105,313 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 89.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gale
| People | Gale | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 20.1% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Gale
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 8.5°F. About 34.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gale since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 5, 1965 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 6, 2017.
Severe weather in Trempealeau County since 1996
Trempealeau County has been included in 15 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 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Trempealeau County
Trempealeau County had 12,492 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Gale itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Towns near Gale
- Galesville, WI3.4 mi · 1,662 people · home $232,000
- Ettrick, WI4.8 mi · 525 people · home $165,000
- Holland, WI6.2 mi · 4,530 people · home $374,400
- Ettrick, WI6.5 mi · 1,285 people · home $234,000
- Caledonia, WI6.7 mi · 928 people · home $316,500
- Holmen, WI9.3 mi · 10,661 people · home $285,900
- Trempealeau, WI9.5 mi · 1,951 people · home $304,600
- Trempealeau, WI9.6 mi · 1,843 people · home $215,600
Gale questions
Is Gale, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gale scores better for retirees than 73% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 32%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.3).
How much does a house cost in Gale?
The median owner-occupied home in Gale is valued at $296,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,313, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,179 a month.
What is the weather like in Gale?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 8.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 38.6 inches of snow.
Does Gale get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 5, 1965. 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)