The Town FilesHillsboro, Wisconsin
City in Vernon County · population 1,397 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,800
- Household income
- $60,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 42.9
Hillsboro is a city of 1,397 people in Vernon County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $155,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better transit than 80% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 75% of Wisconsin towns.
How Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro is worth $155,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $60,000, which is more affordable than 83% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $805 a month. 64.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hillsboro | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $805 | $951 |
| Median household income | $60,000 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 64.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.6% | — |
Who lives in Hillsboro
| People | Hillsboro | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Hillsboro
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 7.1°F. About 37.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsboro since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 14, 2026 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 24, 2006.
Severe weather in Vernon County since 1996
Vernon County has been included in 23 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 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Vernon County
Vernon County had 8,718 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,085 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Hillsboro itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Hillsboro
2 public schools with 477 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro High | 6-12 | 259 | 12.3 |
| Hillsboro Elementary | PK-5 | 218 | 11.5 |
Towns near Hillsboro
- Hillsboro, WI2.8 mi · 787 people · home $208,900
- Greenwood, WI3.9 mi · 923 people · home $249,400
- Wonewoc, WI4.7 mi · 677 people · home $255,200
- Wonewoc, WI5.5 mi · 758 people · home $119,000
- Woodland, WI5.6 mi · 839 people · home $315,300
- Elroy, WI6.7 mi · 1,356 people · home $136,600
- Glendale, WI8.1 mi · 663 people · home $301,400
- Forest, WI8.1 mi · 617 people · home $257,500
Hillsboro questions
Is Hillsboro, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hillsboro scores better for retirees than 15% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 40%. 25.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Hillsboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Hillsboro is valued at $155,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,000, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $805 a month.
What is the weather like in Hillsboro?
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 7.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.3 inches of precipitation a year and 38.7 inches of snow.
Does Hillsboro get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 14, 2026. 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)