The Town FilesJefferson, Wisconsin
City in Jefferson County · population 7,793 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,600
- Household income
- $79,006
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 42.0
Jefferson is a city of 7,793 people in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $225,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 94% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 93% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 88% 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 $225,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $79,006, which is more affordable than 68% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,071 a month. 66.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,071 | $951 |
| Median household income | $79,006 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 66.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 11.0°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 5, 1980 about 8.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 40 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 11, 2011.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 14 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 |
| 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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 33,615 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,167 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Jefferson
4 public schools with 1,513 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson High | 9-12 | 613 | 13.3 |
| Jefferson Middle | 6-8 | 373 | 11.7 |
| East Elementary | PK-5 | 270 | 11.7 |
| West Elementary | PK-5 | 257 | 10.7 |
Towns near Jefferson
- Jefferson, WI2.4 mi · 2,067 people · home $405,600
- Aztalan, WI3.8 mi · 1,382 people · home $381,100
- Johnson Creek, WI5.5 mi · 3,318 people · home $314,200
- Fort Atkinson, WI5.8 mi · 12,579 people · home $211,800
- Farmington, WI6.3 mi · 1,407 people · home $372,100
- Hebron, WI6.4 mi · 1,043 people · home $314,100
- Lake Mills, WI7.1 mi · 6,211 people · home $317,100
- Oakland, WI7.1 mi · 3,231 people · home $353,900
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 16% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 18%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $225,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,006, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,071 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 11.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 42.3 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 5, 1980. 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)