The Town FilesMarkesan, Wisconsin
City in Green Lake County · population 1,377 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,000
- Household income
- $62,165
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 51.2
Markesan is a city of 1,377 people in Green Lake County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $155,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 88% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 87% of Wisconsin towns, better for families than 71% of Wisconsin towns.
How Markesan 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 Markesan is worth $155,000, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $62,165, which is more affordable than 86% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $514 a month. 73.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Markesan | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $514 | $951 |
| Median household income | $62,165 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 73.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Markesan
| People | Markesan | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Markesan
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 8.9°F. About 35.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Markesan since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1974 about 8.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 3, 1997.
Severe weather in Green Lake County since 1996
Green Lake County has been included in 9 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 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 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 Green Lake County
Green Lake County had 5,899 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,517 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Markesan itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Markesan
4 public schools with 757 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Markesan High | 9-12 | 242 | 13.4 |
| Markesan Primary | PK-2 | 192 | 12.0 |
| Markesan Middle | 6-8 | 174 | 11.6 |
| Markesan Intermediate | 3-5 | 149 | 11.5 |
Towns near Markesan
- Manchester, WI4.0 mi · 1,057 people · home $288,000
- Green Lake, WI4.9 mi · 1,169 people · home $370,300
- Randolph, WI7.0 mi · 762 people · home $269,000
- Fox Lake, WI8.4 mi · 2,588 people · home $364,200
- Alto, WI8.6 mi · 1,055 people · home $250,500
- Marquette, WI9.3 mi · 523 people · home $305,800
- Green Lake, WI9.6 mi · 1,001 people · home $218,200
- Metomen, WI9.7 mi · 689 people · home $274,500
Markesan questions
Is Markesan, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Markesan scores better for retirees than 87% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 65%. 26.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.2).
How much does a house cost in Markesan?
The median owner-occupied home in Markesan is valued at $155,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,165, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $514 a month.
What is the weather like in Markesan?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 8.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.6 inches of precipitation a year and 42.9 inches of snow.
Does Markesan get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Markesan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1974. 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)