The Town FilesManitowoc, Wisconsin
City in Manitowoc County · population 34,626 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,700
- Household income
- $63,757
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 42.8
Manitowoc is a city of 34,626 people in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $160,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 96% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 95% of Wisconsin towns.
How Manitowoc 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 Manitowoc is worth $160,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $63,757, which is more affordable than 86% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $804 a month. 67.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manitowoc | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $804 | $951 |
| Median household income | $63,757 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 67.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Manitowoc
| People | Manitowoc | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Manitowoc
July highs average 76.9°F and January lows 13.4°F. About 31.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manitowoc since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 18, 2005 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 19, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 1, 2006.
Severe weather in Manitowoc County since 1996
Manitowoc County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Manitowoc County
Manitowoc County had 33,444 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,550 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Manitowoc itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Manitowoc
10 public schools with 4,548 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High | 9-12 | 1,455 | 15.6 |
| Washington Middle | 6-8 | 503 | 12.0 |
| Wilson Middle | 6-8 | 471 | 13.9 |
| Franklin Elementary | K-5 | 395 | 12.7 |
| Jackson Elementary | K-5 | 353 | 14.1 |
| Jefferson Elementary | K-5 | 352 | 11.0 |
| Riverview Elementary | K-5 | 296 | 11.8 |
| Monroe Elementary | K-5 | 270 | 11.7 |
| Riverview Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 246 | 27.3 |
| Madison Elementary | K-5 | 207 | 10.9 |
Towns near Manitowoc
- Manitowoc, WI2.6 mi · 1,076 people · home $256,900
- Manitowoc Rapids, WI3.9 mi · 2,114 people · home $253,400
- Newton, WI6.0 mi · 2,122 people · home $280,000
- Two Rivers, WI6.4 mi · 11,271 people · home $140,300
- Kossuth, WI7.0 mi · 1,969 people · home $264,700
- Francis Creek, WI7.4 mi · 659 people · home $235,900
- Whitelaw, WI8.1 mi · 737 people · home $182,800
- Two Rivers, WI8.3 mi · 1,672 people · home $225,200
Manitowoc questions
Is Manitowoc, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manitowoc scores better for retirees than 40% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 9%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Manitowoc?
The median owner-occupied home in Manitowoc is valued at $160,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,757, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $804 a month.
What is the weather like in Manitowoc?
July highs average 76.9°F and January lows 13.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.4 inches of precipitation a year and 34.6 inches of snow.
Does Manitowoc get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manitowoc since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 18, 2005. 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)