The Town FilesJefferson, Wisconsin
Town in Green County · population 1,170 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $231,300
- Household income
- $70,368
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 36.7
Jefferson is a town of 1,170 people in Green County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $231,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 90% of Wisconsin towns, better for families than 78% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of Wisconsin towns.
How Jefferson 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 Jefferson is worth $231,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $70,368, which is more affordable than 43% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,016 a month. 81.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $231,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,016 | $951 |
| Median household income | $70,368 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 81.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 10.9°F. About 39.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 16, 1967 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 7, 2020.
Severe weather in Green County since 1996
Green County has been included in 17 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 |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 19, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3285: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Green County
Green County had 15,543 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,430 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Jefferson
- Spring Grove, WI5.8 mi · 919 people · home $260,500
- Sylvester, WI6.0 mi · 1,001 people · home $347,700
- Monroe, WI6.1 mi · 10,661 people · home $195,300
- Clarno, WI6.3 mi · 1,133 people · home $311,300
- Orangeville, IL8.2 mi · 766 people · home $152,700
- Decatur, WI8.4 mi · 1,685 people · home $300,000
- Brodhead, WI9.4 mi · 3,274 people · home $168,800
- Monroe, WI9.5 mi · 1,291 people · home $307,100
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 30% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 64%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $231,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,368, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,016 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 10.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.7 inches of precipitation a year and 41.5 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 16, 1967. 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)