The Town FilesLima, Wisconsin
Town in Rock County · population 1,271 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $280,800
- Household income
- $65,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 41.7
Lima is a town of 1,271 people in Rock County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $280,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 95% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 88% of Wisconsin towns.
How Lima 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 Lima is worth $280,800, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $65,139, which is more affordable than 8% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,176 a month. 86.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lima | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $280,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,176 | $951 |
| Median household income | $65,139 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 86.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lima
| People | Lima | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Lima
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 11.5°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lima since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 24, 1967 about 5.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 2, 2026.
Severe weather in Rock County since 1996
Rock County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 Rock County
Rock County had 69,595 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,381 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Lima itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Towns near Lima
- Milton, WI5.3 mi · 5,716 people · home $249,200
- Johnstown, WI5.6 mi · 766 people · home $339,800
- Whitewater, WI5.7 mi · 1,433 people · home $360,200
- Whitewater, WI6.0 mi · 14,889 people · home $229,400
- Milton, WI6.3 mi · 3,100 people · home $347,500
- Koshkonong, WI6.6 mi · 3,763 people · home $391,700
- Lake Koshkonong, WI6.6 mi · 1,239 people · home $370,300
- Harmony, WI7.8 mi · 2,569 people · home $357,800
Lima questions
Is Lima, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lima scores better for retirees than 55% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 95%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Lima?
The median owner-occupied home in Lima is valued at $280,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,139, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,176 a month.
What is the weather like in Lima?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 11.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 33.9 inches of snow.
Does Lima get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lima since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 24, 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)