The Town FilesHalsey, Wisconsin
Town in Marathon County · population 634 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $293,800
- Household income
- $88,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 44.3
Halsey is a town of 634 people in Marathon County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $293,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for families than 70% of Wisconsin towns.
How Halsey 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 Halsey is worth $293,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $88,750, which is more affordable than 43% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $857 a month. 85.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Halsey | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $293,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $857 | $951 |
| Median household income | $88,750 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 85.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Halsey
| People | Halsey | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 36.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 29.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Halsey
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 2.3°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Halsey since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 10, 2011 about 8.1 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 21 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 13, 2024.
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 Halsey itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Towns near Halsey
- Athens, WI4.1 mi · 1,059 people · home $189,700
- Bern, WI4.8 mi · 614 people · home $237,500
- Hamburg, WI6.0 mi · 827 people · home $246,000
- Rietbrock, WI6.5 mi · 874 people · home $278,800
- Johnson, WI8.4 mi · 873 people · home $186,700
- Rib Falls, WI8.8 mi · 947 people · home $299,400
- Browning, WI10.6 mi · 910 people · home $245,200
- Deer Creek, WI10.8 mi · 677 people · home $184,700
Halsey questions
Is Halsey, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Halsey scores better for retirees than 6% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 56%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Halsey?
The median owner-occupied home in Halsey is valued at $293,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,750, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $857 a month.
What is the weather like in Halsey?
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 2.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 50.9 inches of snow.
Does Halsey get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Halsey since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 10, 2011. 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)