The Town FilesScott, Wisconsin
Town in Columbia County · population 857 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $324,600
- Household income
- $59,205
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 28.7
Scott is a town of 857 people in Columbia County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $324,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for families than 81% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 73% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 70% of Wisconsin towns.
How Scott 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 Scott is worth $324,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $59,205, which is more affordable than 1% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $640 a month. 70.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Scott | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $324,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $640 | $951 |
| Median household income | $59,205 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 70.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.3% | — |
Who lives in Scott
| People | Scott | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 18.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 48.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Scott
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 8.8°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scott since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 26, 1951 about 6.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 16 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 29, 1984.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 26, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1719: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 21,963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,667 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Scott itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Scott
- Cambria, WI5.0 mi · 777 people · home $157,900
- Kingston, WI5.8 mi · 1,079 people · home $202,700
- Springvale, WI6.6 mi · 539 people · home $338,200
- Marcellon, WI6.7 mi · 1,140 people · home $317,100
- Randolph, WI7.1 mi · 762 people · home $269,000
- Pardeeville, WI7.7 mi · 2,074 people · home $230,400
- Manchester, WI8.0 mi · 1,057 people · home $288,000
- Wyocena, WI8.8 mi · 1,756 people · home $307,300
Scott questions
Is Scott, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Scott scores better for retirees than 31% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 42%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.7).
How much does a house cost in Scott?
The median owner-occupied home in Scott is valued at $324,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,205, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $640 a month.
What is the weather like in Scott?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 8.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 45.5 inches of snow.
Does Scott get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Scott since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 26, 1951. 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)