The Town FilesPacific, Wisconsin
Town in Columbia County · population 2,791 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $285,600
- Household income
- $87,941
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 51.5
Pacific is a town of 2,791 people in Columbia County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $285,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 82% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 82% of Wisconsin towns.
How Pacific 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 Pacific is worth $285,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $87,941, which is more affordable than 48% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 89.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pacific | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $285,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $950 | $951 |
| Median household income | $87,941 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 89.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.8% | — |
Who lives in Pacific
| People | Pacific | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 19.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Pacific
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pacific since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 26, 1951 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 17 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 3, 2004.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 11 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 |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 26, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1719: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 21,963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,667 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Pacific itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Towns near Pacific
- Portage, WI4.0 mi · 10,581 people · home $204,900
- Dekorra, WI6.8 mi · 2,500 people · home $370,600
- Poynette, WI8.3 mi · 2,590 people · home $296,600
- Lodi, WI13.6 mi · 3,282 people · home $441,500
- Lake Wisconsin, WI14.0 mi · 4,616 people · home $452,400
- Lodi, WI15.2 mi · 3,189 people · home $328,200
- Baraboo, WI17.0 mi · 12,556 people · home $222,100
- Windsor, WI19.4 mi · 8,754 people · home $425,600
Pacific questions
Is Pacific, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pacific scores better for retirees than 64% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 82%. 27.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.5).
How much does a house cost in Pacific?
The median owner-occupied home in Pacific is valued at $285,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,941, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in Pacific?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 39.3 inches of snow.
Does Pacific get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pacific since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 26, 1951. 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)