The Town FilesLancaster, Wisconsin
City in Grant County · population 3,907 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $204,000
- Household income
- $84,302
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 45.1
Lancaster is a city of 3,907 people in Grant County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $204,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 94% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 94% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
How Lancaster 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 Lancaster is worth $204,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $84,302, which is more affordable than 90% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $806 a month. 77.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lancaster | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $204,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $806 | $951 |
| Median household income | $84,302 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 77.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lancaster
| People | Lancaster | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Lancaster
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 8.9°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lancaster since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 28, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 12, 1976.
Severe weather in Grant County since 1996
Grant County has been included in 20 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 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| August 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4141: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Grant County
Grant County had 17,200 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,501 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Lancaster itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Lancaster
3 public schools with 999 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winskill Elementary | PK-5 | 456 | 12.3 |
| Lancaster High | 9-12 | 308 | 11.8 |
| Lancaster Middle | 6-8 | 235 | 16.8 |
Towns near Lancaster
- Fennimore, WI9.9 mi · 2,764 people · home $161,400
- Platteville, WI14.6 mi · 11,836 people · home $200,100
- Boscobel, WI20.7 mi · 3,286 people · home $147,400
- Asbury, IA23.5 mi · 5,943 people · home $339,000
- Dubuque, IA24.1 mi · 59,667 people · home $204,800
- Prairie du Chien, WI25.5 mi · 5,506 people · home $161,300
- Mineral Point, WI26.6 mi · 2,581 people · home $212,200
Lancaster questions
Is Lancaster, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lancaster scores better for retirees than 4% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 9%. 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.1).
How much does a house cost in Lancaster?
The median owner-occupied home in Lancaster is valued at $204,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,302, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $806 a month.
What is the weather like in Lancaster?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 8.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 37.4 inches of snow.
Does Lancaster get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lancaster since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)