The Town FilesPort Washington, Wisconsin
City in Ozaukee County · population 12,353 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $296,300
- Household income
- $81,948
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 40.5
Port Washington is a city of 12,353 people in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $296,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks hipper than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 95% of Wisconsin towns.
How Port Washington 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 Port Washington is worth $296,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $81,948, which is more affordable than 27% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,008 a month. 65.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Port Washington | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $296,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,008 | $951 |
| Median household income | $81,948 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 65.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Port Washington
| People | Port Washington | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Port Washington
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Washington since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 22, 1964 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 3, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 7, 2020.
Severe weather in Ozaukee County since 1996
Ozaukee County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 Ozaukee County
Ozaukee County had 41,266 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,909 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Port Washington itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Port Washington
4 public schools with 2,142 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Washington High | 9-12 | 804 | 14.1 |
| Thomas Jefferson Middle | 5-8 | 708 | 12.9 |
| Dunwiddie Elementary | PK-4 | 335 | 13.4 |
| Lincoln Elementary | PK-4 | 295 | 12.8 |
Towns near Port Washington
- Saukville, WI3.0 mi · 4,258 people · home $299,600
- Grafton, WI3.9 mi · 4,355 people · home $497,000
- Grafton, WI5.5 mi · 12,094 people · home $328,800
- Cedarburg, WI7.7 mi · 6,162 people · home $473,800
- Cedarburg, WI7.9 mi · 12,121 people · home $422,000
- Trenton, WI10.6 mi · 4,525 people · home $366,000
- Thiensville, WI11.3 mi · 3,290 people · home $352,100
- Jackson, WI12.3 mi · 4,629 people · home $417,700
Port Washington questions
Is Port Washington, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Port Washington scores better for retirees than 91% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 10%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in Port Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Port Washington is valued at $296,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,948, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,008 a month.
What is the weather like in Port Washington?
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 42.3 inches of snow.
Does Port Washington get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 22, 1964. 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)