The Town FilesHelvetia, Wisconsin
Town in Waupaca County · population 701 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $186,400
- Household income
- $80,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 51.6
Helvetia is a town of 701 people in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $186,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 88% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 73% of Wisconsin towns.
How Helvetia 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 Helvetia is worth $186,400, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $80,167, which is more affordable than 92% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,119 a month. 89.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Helvetia | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,400 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,119 | $951 |
| Median household income | $80,167 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 89.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 27.8% | — |
Who lives in Helvetia
| People | Helvetia | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 29.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Helvetia
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helvetia since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 26, 1951 about 8.7 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 23, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 26, 2007.
Severe weather in Waupaca County since 1996
Waupaca County has been included in 11 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 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Waupaca County
Waupaca County had 18,649 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,246 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Helvetia itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Towns near Helvetia
- Iola, WI4.8 mi · 1,249 people · home $164,200
- St. Lawrence, WI5.3 mi · 714 people · home $231,800
- Union, WI5.8 mi · 778 people · home $280,600
- Iola, WI6.9 mi · 938 people · home $274,500
- Manawa, WI7.9 mi · 1,441 people · home $159,400
- Dupont, WI8.1 mi · 746 people · home $232,400
- Little Wolf, WI8.6 mi · 1,400 people · home $243,100
- Scandinavia, WI8.9 mi · 1,049 people · home $274,400
Helvetia questions
Is Helvetia, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Helvetia scores better for retirees than 44% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 73%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.6).
How much does a house cost in Helvetia?
The median owner-occupied home in Helvetia is valued at $186,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,167, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,119 a month.
What is the weather like in Helvetia?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 48.2 inches of snow.
Does Helvetia get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helvetia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 26, 1951. 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)