The Town FilesPorter, Wisconsin
Town in Rock County · population 969 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $439,000
- Household income
- $95,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 45.8
Porter is a town of 969 people in Rock County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $439,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 90% of Wisconsin towns, more upscale than 83% of Wisconsin towns, better for families than 77% of Wisconsin towns.
How Porter 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 Porter is worth $439,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $95,833, which is more affordable than 5% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $963 a month. 89.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Porter | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $439,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $963 | $951 |
| Median household income | $95,833 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 89.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Porter
| People | Porter | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Porter
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 9.7°F. About 37.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Porter since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 18, 2005 about 8.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 18, 2025.
Severe weather in Rock County since 1996
Rock County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| March 19, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3285: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Rock County
Rock County had 69,595 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,381 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Porter itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Porter
- Fulton, WI5.3 mi · 3,580 people · home $343,700
- Dunkirk, WI5.8 mi · 1,881 people · home $355,300
- Edgerton, WI5.8 mi · 5,945 people · home $266,900
- Evansville, WI6.3 mi · 5,703 people · home $276,400
- Center, WI6.6 mi · 1,046 people · home $349,100
- Union, WI6.7 mi · 2,104 people · home $409,400
- Albion, WI7.9 mi · 2,069 people · home $356,500
- Stoughton, WI8.2 mi · 13,173 people · home $293,500
Porter questions
Is Porter, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Porter scores better for retirees than 71% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 56%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.8).
How much does a house cost in Porter?
The median owner-occupied home in Porter is valued at $439,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,833, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $963 a month.
What is the weather like in Porter?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 9.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.8 inches of precipitation a year and 35.5 inches of snow.
Does Porter get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Porter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 18, 2005. 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)