The Town FilesPortland, Wisconsin
Town in Dodge County · population 1,091 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $281,300
- Household income
- $81,429
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 48.4
Portland is a town of 1,091 people in Dodge County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $281,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 71% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 70% of Wisconsin towns.
How Portland 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 Portland is worth $281,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $81,429, which is more affordable than 32% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,119 a month. 87.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portland | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $281,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,119 | $951 |
| Median household income | $81,429 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 87.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.3% | — |
Who lives in Portland
| People | Portland | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.4 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Portland
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.8 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portland since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 15, 2025 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on April 13, 2006.
Severe weather in Dodge County since 1996
Dodge County has been included in 13 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 |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 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 Dodge County
Dodge County had 36,662 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,552 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Portland itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Towns near Portland
- Waterloo, WI4.0 mi · 3,492 people · home $230,600
- York, WI5.5 mi · 697 people · home $405,000
- Waterloo, WI5.9 mi · 867 people · home $435,000
- Elba, WI6.4 mi · 1,041 people · home $352,500
- Shields, WI6.8 mi · 503 people · home $284,000
- Marshall, WI7.1 mi · 3,787 people · home $238,900
- Reeseville, WI7.3 mi · 763 people · home $167,000
- Medina, WI7.8 mi · 1,344 people · home $407,400
Portland questions
Is Portland, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portland scores better for retirees than 53% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 71%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.4).
How much does a house cost in Portland?
The median owner-occupied home in Portland is valued at $281,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,429, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,119 a month.
What is the weather like in Portland?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 40.8 inches of snow.
Does Portland get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 15, 2025. 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)