The Town FilesGreen Lake, Wisconsin
City in Green Lake County · population 1,001 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $218,200
- Household income
- $55,970
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 54.1
Green Lake is a city of 1,001 people in Green Lake County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $218,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Wisconsin towns.
How Green 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 Green Lake is worth $218,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $55,970, which is more affordable than 16% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $721 a month. 62.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Green Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $218,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $721 | $951 |
| Median household income | $55,970 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 62.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 22.6% | — |
Who lives in Green Lake
| People | Green Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 21.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Green Lake
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 8.3°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Green Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1974 about 8.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 54 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 3, 1997.
Severe weather in Green Lake County since 1996
Green Lake County has been included in 9 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 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Green Lake County
Green Lake County had 5,899 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,517 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Green Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Green Lake
2 public schools with 286 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Lake Elementary | PK-6 | 152 | 12.7 |
| Green Lake High | 7-12 | 134 | 8.9 |
Towns near Green Lake
- Brooklyn, WI0.9 mi · 1,787 people · home $332,600
- Green Lake, WI4.7 mi · 1,169 people · home $370,300
- Ripon, WI5.8 mi · 7,863 people · home $174,900
- Berlin, WI6.2 mi · 1,068 people · home $251,800
- Ripon, WI7.7 mi · 1,314 people · home $247,300
- Princeton, WI8.1 mi · 1,519 people · home $274,700
- Berlin, WI8.5 mi · 5,571 people · home $160,300
- Princeton, WI8.5 mi · 1,267 people · home $116,700
Green Lake questions
Is Green Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Green Lake scores better for retirees than 98% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 43%. 36.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.1).
How much does a house cost in Green Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Green Lake is valued at $218,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,970, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $721 a month.
What is the weather like in Green Lake?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 8.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 41.1 inches of snow.
Does Green Lake get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Green Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1974. 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)