The Town FilesGratiot, Wisconsin
Town in Lafayette County · population 575 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $326,800
- Household income
- $50,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 59.7
Gratiot is a town of 575 people in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $326,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 82% of Wisconsin towns, better for families than 78% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Wisconsin towns.
How Gratiot 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 Gratiot is worth $326,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 6.5 times the median household income of $50,000, which is more affordable than 0% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $842 a month. 92.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gratiot | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $326,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $842 | $951 |
| Median household income | $50,000 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 92.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Gratiot
| People | Gratiot | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 11.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Gratiot
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 8.4°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gratiot since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 8, 1988 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 7, 2020.
Severe weather in Lafayette County since 1996
Lafayette County has been included in 14 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 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lafayette County
Lafayette County had 5,068 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,347 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Gratiot itself the ACS puts it at 0.4%.
Towns near Gratiot
- Warren, IL5.2 mi · 1,323 people · home $102,200
- Darlington, WI7.4 mi · 923 people · home $271,000
- Wiota, WI7.5 mi · 830 people · home $278,100
- Darlington, WI9.0 mi · 2,462 people · home $155,100
- Shullsburg, WI10.2 mi · 1,173 people · home $148,800
- Apple Canyon Lake, IL11.0 mi · 574 people · home $329,400
- Argyle, WI12.8 mi · 783 people · home $137,300
- Cadiz, WI13.2 mi · 747 people · home $217,700
Gratiot questions
Is Gratiot, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gratiot scores better for retirees than 52% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 82%. 36.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.7).
How much does a house cost in Gratiot?
The median owner-occupied home in Gratiot is valued at $326,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,000, so homes cost about 6.5 times income. Median rent is $842 a month.
What is the weather like in Gratiot?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 8.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 32.1 inches of snow.
Does Gratiot get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gratiot since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 8, 1988. 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)