The Town FilesIthaca, Wisconsin
Town in Richland County · population 633 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $228,900
- Household income
- $96,080
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 47.6
Ithaca is a town of 633 people in Richland County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $228,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 81% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 76% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 75% of Wisconsin towns.
How Ithaca 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 Ithaca is worth $228,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $96,080, which is more affordable than 90% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $883 a month. 85.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ithaca | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $228,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $883 | $951 |
| Median household income | $96,080 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 85.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.7% | — |
Who lives in Ithaca
| People | Ithaca | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Ithaca
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ithaca since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 3, 1964 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 18, 2025.
Severe weather in Richland County since 1996
Richland County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| 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 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| October 20, 2016 | Flood | DR-4288: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Richland County
Richland County had 5,963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,821 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Ithaca itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Towns near Ithaca
- Bear Creek, WI5.4 mi · 641 people · home $347,700
- Richland, WI5.9 mi · 1,175 people · home $264,100
- Richland Center, WI6.6 mi · 5,114 people · home $158,300
- Buena Vista, WI6.8 mi · 1,807 people · home $195,400
- Rockbridge, WI8.1 mi · 697 people · home $277,300
- Washington, WI8.4 mi · 1,021 people · home $295,300
- Orion, WI9.1 mi · 541 people · home $236,400
- Lone Rock, WI10.7 mi · 829 people · home $115,900
Ithaca questions
Is Ithaca, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ithaca scores better for retirees than 81% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 76%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.6).
How much does a house cost in Ithaca?
The median owner-occupied home in Ithaca is valued at $228,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,080, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $883 a month.
What is the weather like in Ithaca?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 40.4 inches of snow.
Does Ithaca get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ithaca since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 3, 1964. 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)