The Town FilesPorterfield, Wisconsin
Town in Marinette County · population 1,888 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $234,300
- Household income
- $74,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 53.9
Porterfield is a town of 1,888 people in Marinette County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $234,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 94% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 82% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 71% of Wisconsin towns.
How Porterfield 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 Porterfield is worth $234,300, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $74,500, which is more affordable than 55% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,281 a month. 96.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Porterfield | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,281 | $951 |
| Median household income | $74,500 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 96.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.3% | — |
Who lives in Porterfield
| People | Porterfield | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 16.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 89.1% |
Weather in Porterfield
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 9.5°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.8 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Porterfield since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 19, 1968 about 6.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 7, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 19, 1968.
Severe weather in Marinette County since 1996
Marinette County has been included in 7 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 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| July 19, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1429: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Marinette County
Marinette County had 17,599 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,321 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Porterfield itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Towns near Porterfield
- Lake, WI6.1 mi · 1,186 people · home $182,300
- Menominee, MI7.0 mi · 3,364 people · home $185,100
- Peshtigo, WI7.8 mi · 3,420 people · home $140,300
- Menominee, MI7.9 mi · 8,488 people · home $104,400
- Marinette, WI8.9 mi · 11,119 people · home $120,200
- Grover, WI9.1 mi · 1,731 people · home $200,000
- Wagner, WI10.2 mi · 653 people · home $180,400
- Middle Inlet, WI12.2 mi · 851 people · home $152,400
Porterfield questions
Is Porterfield, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Porterfield scores better for retirees than 50% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 94%. 25.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.9).
How much does a house cost in Porterfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Porterfield is valued at $234,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,500, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,281 a month.
What is the weather like in Porterfield?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 9.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 43.8 inches of snow.
Does Porterfield get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Porterfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 19, 1968. 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)