The Town FilesShields, Wisconsin
Town in Dodge County · population 503 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $284,000
- Household income
- $98,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 44.7
Shields is a town of 503 people in Dodge County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $284,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 76% of Wisconsin towns.
How Shields 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 Shields is worth $284,000, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $98,333, which is more affordable than 68% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,274 a month. 79.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shields | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $284,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,274 | $951 |
| Median household income | $98,333 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 79.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in Shields
| People | Shields | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Shields
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 10.5°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shields since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 5, 1980 about 7.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. 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 3.75 inches on May 14, 2001.
Severe weather in Dodge County since 1996
Dodge 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 Dodge County
Dodge County had 36,662 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,552 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Shields itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Towns near Shields
- Reeseville, WI5.2 mi · 763 people · home $167,000
- Emmet, WI5.3 mi · 1,310 people · home $362,900
- Watertown, WI5.4 mi · 22,926 people · home $222,100
- Lowell, WI6.2 mi · 1,166 people · home $322,400
- Milford, WI6.4 mi · 1,106 people · home $388,000
- Portland, WI6.8 mi · 1,091 people · home $281,300
- Watertown, WI6.9 mi · 1,933 people · home $348,900
- Waterloo, WI8.2 mi · 867 people · home $435,000
Shields questions
Is Shields, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shields scores better for retirees than 74% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 76%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Shields?
The median owner-occupied home in Shields is valued at $284,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,333, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,274 a month.
What is the weather like in Shields?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 10.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 37.0 inches of snow.
Does Shields get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shields since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 5, 1980. 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)