The Town FilesMontello, Wisconsin
City in Marquette County · population 1,448 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,800
- Household income
- $55,758
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 49.0
Montello is a city of 1,448 people in Marquette County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $157,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 85% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 76% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 75% of Wisconsin towns.
How Montello 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 Montello is worth $157,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $55,758, which is more affordable than 74% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $638 a month. 62.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Montello | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $638 | $951 |
| Median household income | $55,758 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 62.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 16.4% | — |
Who lives in Montello
| People | Montello | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.0% | 89.1% |
Weather in Montello
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 8.0°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montello since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 23, 2004 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 22, 2011.
Severe weather in Marquette County since 1996
Marquette 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 Marquette County
Marquette County had 3,942 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,451 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Montello itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Montello
4 public schools with 576 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Lane Community School | PK-6 | 270 | 10.4 |
| Montello Junior/Senior High | 7-12 | 252 | 9.7 |
| High Marq Environmental Charter School (charter) | 6-12 | 32 | 16.0 |
| Montello Virtual Charter School (charter) | PK-12 | 22 | — |
Towns near Montello
- Montello, WI2.0 mi · 1,132 people · home $226,500
- Packwaukee, WI4.3 mi · 1,469 people · home $200,300
- Shields, WI4.5 mi · 585 people · home $217,200
- Harris, WI6.5 mi · 748 people · home $250,000
- Mecan, WI6.5 mi · 752 people · home $209,900
- Buffalo, WI7.5 mi · 1,389 people · home $253,800
- Marquette, WI8.8 mi · 523 people · home $305,800
- Moundville, WI10.1 mi · 526 people · home $252,100
Montello questions
Is Montello, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Montello scores better for retirees than 60% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 75%. 32.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.0).
How much does a house cost in Montello?
The median owner-occupied home in Montello is valued at $157,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,758, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $638 a month.
What is the weather like in Montello?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 8.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 42.0 inches of snow.
Does Montello get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montello since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 23, 2004. 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)