The Town FilesSampson, Wisconsin
Town in Chippewa County · population 972 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $292,300
- Household income
- $78,295
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 56.1
Sampson is a town of 972 people in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $292,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 89% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Wisconsin towns.
How Sampson 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 Sampson is worth $292,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $78,295, which is more affordable than 23% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $888 a month. 95.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sampson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $292,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $888 | $951 |
| Median household income | $78,295 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 95.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 46.6% | — |
Who lives in Sampson
| People | Sampson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 24.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 32.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Sampson
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 3.4°F. About 31.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sampson since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 30, 1977 about 4.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 4, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 28, 2023.
Severe weather in Chippewa County since 1996
Chippewa County has been included in 11 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 20, 2016 | Flood | DR-4288: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chippewa County
Chippewa County had 26,613 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Sampson itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Towns near Sampson
- Bloomer, WI5.4 mi · 1,090 people · home $295,100
- New Auburn, WI7.1 mi · 562 people · home $169,900
- Rusk, WI7.1 mi · 551 people · home $209,800
- Dovre, WI8.4 mi · 825 people · home $201,100
- Cleveland, WI9.8 mi · 889 people · home $234,300
- Bloomer, WI9.9 mi · 3,683 people · home $214,000
- Chetek, WI10.6 mi · 1,726 people · home $317,600
- Auburn, WI10.6 mi · 776 people · home $287,800
Sampson questions
Is Sampson, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sampson scores better for retirees than 44% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 89%. 29.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.1).
How much does a house cost in Sampson?
The median owner-occupied home in Sampson is valued at $292,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,295, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $888 a month.
What is the weather like in Sampson?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 3.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.9 inches of precipitation a year and 46.5 inches of snow.
Does Sampson get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sampson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 30, 1977. 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)