The Town FilesSaratoga, Wisconsin
Town in Wood County · population 5,060 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $175,600
- Household income
- $74,499
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 51.0
Saratoga is a town of 5,060 people in Wood County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $175,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 95% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Wisconsin towns.
- #2 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Wisconsin
- #16 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Wisconsin
- #21 in The 50 Quietest Small Towns in America
- #21 in The 50 Quietest Places in America
- #46 in The 50 Best Small Towns for Young Families in America
- #48 in The 50 Best Places for Young Families in America
How Saratoga 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 Saratoga is worth $175,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $74,499, which is more affordable than 90% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,013 a month. 97.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Saratoga | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $175,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,013 | $951 |
| Median household income | $74,499 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 97.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.7% | — |
Who lives in Saratoga
| People | Saratoga | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 15.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Saratoga
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 7.7°F. About 31.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.8 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Saratoga since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 22, 2011 about 8.8 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 50 times; the largest was 5.50 inches on June 7, 2007.
Severe weather in Wood County since 1996
Wood 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 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Wood County
Wood County had 36,183 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,502 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Saratoga itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Saratoga
- Rome, WI5.7 mi · 3,025 people · home $293,500
- Lake Wazeecha, WI6.4 mi · 3,107 people · home $218,800
- Grand Rapids, WI6.9 mi · 7,576 people · home $223,500
- Wisconsin Rapids, WI7.6 mi · 18,877 people · home $131,900
- Plover, WI17.7 mi · 13,519 people · home $269,800
- Stevens Point, WI20.6 mi · 25,666 people · home $195,400
- Hull, WI22.6 mi · 5,287 people · home $283,500
- Stockton, WI23.4 mi · 3,018 people · home $290,100
Saratoga questions
Is Saratoga, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Saratoga scores better for retirees than 23% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 95%. 28.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.0).
How much does a house cost in Saratoga?
The median owner-occupied home in Saratoga is valued at $175,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,499, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,013 a month.
What is the weather like in Saratoga?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 7.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.3 inches of precipitation a year and 47.8 inches of snow.
Does Saratoga get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Saratoga since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 22, 2011. 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)