The Town FilesPotter Lake, Wisconsin
Community in Walworth County · population 1,117 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $309,600
- Household income
- $94,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 50.8
Potter Lake is a community of 1,117 people in Walworth County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $309,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Wisconsin towns, more upscale than 81% of Wisconsin towns.
How Potter Lake 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 Potter Lake is worth $309,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $94,750, which is more affordable than 43% of Wisconsin towns. 91.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Potter Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $309,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $94,750 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 91.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.7% | — |
Who lives in Potter Lake
| People | Potter Lake | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Potter Lake
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Potter Lake since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 22, 2010 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 70 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on August 2, 2015.
Severe weather in Walworth County since 1996
Walworth 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 Walworth County
Walworth County had 45,268 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,949 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Potter Lake itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Potter Lake
- Mukwonago, WI2.5 mi · 8,262 people · home $366,200
- East Troy, WI3.3 mi · 3,992 people · home $369,300
- East Troy, WI3.6 mi · 4,687 people · home $299,600
- Mukwonago, WI5.0 mi · 7,781 people · home $447,300
- Waterford, WI5.1 mi · 6,514 people · home $424,300
- Tichigan, WI6.8 mi · 5,277 people · home $445,800
- Troy, WI7.0 mi · 2,355 people · home $380,900
- Waterford, WI7.4 mi · 5,542 people · home $329,800
Potter Lake questions
Is Potter Lake, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Potter Lake scores better for retirees than 78% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 11%. 28.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.8).
How much does a house cost in Potter Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Potter Lake is valued at $309,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,750, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Potter Lake?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 41.0 inches of snow.
Does Potter Lake get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Potter Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 22, 2010. 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)