The Town FilesLanark, Wisconsin
Town in Portage County · population 1,535 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $258,600
- Household income
- $104,217
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 48.5
Lanark is a town of 1,535 people in Portage County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $258,600, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 90% of Wisconsin towns, more of a college town than 80% of Wisconsin towns.
How Lanark 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 Lanark is worth $258,600, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $104,217, which is more affordable than 86% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,108 a month. 91.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lanark | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $258,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,108 | $951 |
| Median household income | $104,217 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 91.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.6% | — |
Who lives in Lanark
| People | Lanark | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Lanark
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lanark since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 26, 1951 about 2.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 12, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 26, 2007.
Severe weather in Portage County since 1996
Portage County has been included in 12 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 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Portage County
Portage County had 33,088 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,889 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Lanark itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Lanark
- Amherst, WI4.6 mi · 1,117 people · home $244,300
- Farmington, WI5.2 mi · 3,712 people · home $251,500
- Amherst, WI5.6 mi · 1,402 people · home $314,500
- Belmont, WI6.6 mi · 623 people · home $205,400
- Chain O' Lakes, WI6.6 mi · 1,124 people · home $640,000
- Scandinavia, WI7.6 mi · 1,049 people · home $274,400
- King, WI8.0 mi · 1,242 people · home $145,900
- Buena Vista, WI9.0 mi · 1,145 people · home $290,500
Lanark questions
Is Lanark, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lanark scores better for retirees than 68% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 62%. 28.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.5).
How much does a house cost in Lanark?
The median owner-occupied home in Lanark is valued at $258,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $104,217, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,108 a month.
What is the weather like in Lanark?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 48.0 inches of snow.
Does Lanark get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lanark since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 26, 1951. 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)