The Town FilesPotosi, Wisconsin
Village in Grant County · population 646 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,500
- Household income
- $69,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 43.6
Potosi is a village of 646 people in Grant County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $187,500, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more of a college town than 79% of Wisconsin towns, better transit than 78% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 74% of Wisconsin towns.
How Potosi 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 Potosi is worth $187,500, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $69,000, which is more affordable than 79% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $775 a month. 73.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Potosi | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $775 | $951 |
| Median household income | $69,000 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 73.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Potosi
| People | Potosi | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Potosi
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 10.1°F. About 38.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Potosi since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 9, 1970 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 18, 2025.
Severe weather in Grant County since 1996
Grant County has been included in 20 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 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| August 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4141: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Grant County
Grant County had 17,200 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,501 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Potosi itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Potosi
3 public schools with 327 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potosi Elementary | PK-5 | 165 | 12.7 |
| Potosi High | 9-12 | 109 | 9.9 |
| Potosi Middle | 6-8 | 53 | 10.6 |
Towns near Potosi
- Potosi, WI1.1 mi · 813 people · home $206,000
- Paris, WI5.3 mi · 655 people · home $278,700
- Waterloo, WI6.8 mi · 552 people · home $309,100
- Dickeyville, WI7.0 mi · 1,015 people · home $193,400
- South Lancaster, WI8.7 mi · 884 people · home $251,700
- Kieler, WI8.8 mi · 557 people · home $220,500
- Platteville, WI9.9 mi · 1,513 people · home $340,100
- Ellenboro, WI10.3 mi · 580 people · home $247,000
Potosi questions
Is Potosi, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Potosi scores better for retirees than 48% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 49%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Potosi?
The median owner-occupied home in Potosi is valued at $187,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,000, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $775 a month.
What is the weather like in Potosi?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 10.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.8 inches of precipitation a year and 38.4 inches of snow.
Does Potosi get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Potosi since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 9, 1970. 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)