The Town FilesPella, Wisconsin
Town in Shawano County · population 899 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $183,900
- Household income
- $61,121
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 56.6
Pella is a town of 899 people in Shawano County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $183,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 91% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 82% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 79% of Wisconsin towns.
How Pella 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 Pella is worth $183,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $61,121, which is more affordable than 62% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,052 a month. 86.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pella | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $183,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,052 | $951 |
| Median household income | $61,121 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 86.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.3% | — |
Who lives in Pella
| People | Pella | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 10.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 16.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Pella
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 7.3°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pella since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 27, 1984 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 23, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 27, 2026.
Severe weather in Shawano County since 1996
Shawano County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Shawano County
Shawano County had 12,343 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,528 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Pella itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Towns near Pella
- Herman, WI5.1 mi · 739 people · home $174,600
- Belle Plaine, WI6.0 mi · 1,800 people · home $279,000
- Larrabee, WI6.5 mi · 1,286 people · home $176,400
- Marion, WI6.6 mi · 1,324 people · home $104,200
- Grant, WI6.9 mi · 976 people · home $208,000
- Clintonville, WI7.6 mi · 4,591 people · home $112,000
- Richmond, WI7.7 mi · 1,832 people · home $245,800
- Gresham, WI8.2 mi · 530 people · home $102,800
Pella questions
Is Pella, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pella scores better for retirees than 54% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 91%. 28.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.6).
How much does a house cost in Pella?
The median owner-occupied home in Pella is valued at $183,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,121, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,052 a month.
What is the weather like in Pella?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 7.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 44.3 inches of snow.
Does Pella get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pella since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 27, 1984. 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)