The Town FilesRipon, Wisconsin
City in Fond du Lac County · population 7,863 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,900
- Household income
- $54,763
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 41.9
Ripon is a city of 7,863 people in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $174,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 95% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
How Ripon 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 Ripon is worth $174,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $54,763, which is more affordable than 48% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $775 a month. 64.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ripon | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $775 | $951 |
| Median household income | $54,763 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 64.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ripon
| People | Ripon | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 19.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Ripon
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 9.7°F. About 31.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ripon since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1974 about 4.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 90 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 27, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 3, 1997.
Severe weather in Fond du Lac County since 1996
Fond du Lac County has been included in 12 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 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Fond du Lac County
Fond du Lac County had 45,047 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,238 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Ripon itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Ripon
6 public schools with 1,430 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ripon High | 9-12 | 448 | 13.6 |
| Ripon Middle | 6-8 | 295 | 11.3 |
| Journey | PK-2 | 222 | 13.9 |
| Barlow Park Charter School (charter) | K-2 | 157 | 11.2 |
| Quest Charter School (charter) | 3-5 | 156 | 13.0 |
| Murray Park Elementary | 3-5 | 152 | 11.7 |
Towns near Ripon
- Berlin, WI10.4 mi · 5,571 people · home $160,300
- Omro, WI14.4 mi · 3,652 people · home $197,900
- Waupun, WI15.5 mi · 11,344 people · home $188,600
- Algoma, WI16.3 mi · 6,866 people · home $334,400
- North Fond du Lac, WI17.7 mi · 5,378 people · home $155,100
- Fox Lake, WI17.8 mi · 2,588 people · home $364,200
- Friendship, WI18.4 mi · 2,748 people · home $236,100
- Oshkosh, WI18.5 mi · 66,816 people · home $177,700
Ripon questions
Is Ripon, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ripon scores better for retirees than 90% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 10%. 23.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Ripon?
The median owner-occupied home in Ripon is valued at $174,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,763, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $775 a month.
What is the weather like in Ripon?
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 9.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.5 inches of precipitation a year and 37.6 inches of snow.
Does Ripon get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ripon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1974. 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)