The Town FilesJefferson, Wisconsin
Town in Monroe County · population 841 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $263,200
- Household income
- $84,545
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 55 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 26.9
Jefferson is a town of 841 people in Monroe County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $263,200, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for families than 74% 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 $263,200, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $84,545, which is more affordable than 55% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $704 a month. 87.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $704 | $951 |
| Median household income | $84,545 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 87.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 36.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 18.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 59.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 10.8°F. About 35.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 8, 1988 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 15 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 |
| 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 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 21,455 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,839 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Towns near Jefferson
- Cashton, WI2.6 mi · 1,158 people · home $140,800
- Portland, WI3.9 mi · 833 people · home $350,000
- Clinton, WI5.8 mi · 1,374 people · home $347,900
- Wells, WI6.0 mi · 562 people · home $230,000
- Sheldon, WI6.5 mi · 649 people · home $271,900
- Leon, WI7.7 mi · 1,144 people · home $282,200
- Norwalk, WI7.7 mi · 611 people · home $96,700
- Christiana, WI7.7 mi · 993 people · home $359,300
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 13% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 38%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 26.9).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $263,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,545, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $704 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 10.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.0 inches of precipitation a year and 54.5 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 8, 1988. 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)