The Town FilesShullsburg, Wisconsin
City in Lafayette County · population 1,173 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $148,800
- Household income
- $64,028
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 44.2
Shullsburg is a city of 1,173 people in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $148,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of Wisconsin towns.
How Shullsburg 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 Shullsburg is worth $148,800, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $64,028, which is more affordable than 92% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $914 a month. 85.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shullsburg | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,800 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $914 | $951 |
| Median household income | $64,028 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 85.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Shullsburg
| People | Shullsburg | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Shullsburg
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 8.4°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shullsburg since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 8, 1988 about 0.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 24, 2009.
Severe weather in Lafayette County since 1996
Lafayette County has been included in 14 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 |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lafayette County
Lafayette County had 5,068 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,347 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Shullsburg itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Shullsburg
3 public schools with 312 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shullsburg Elementary | PK-5 | 133 | 8.9 |
| Shullsburg High | 9-12 | 102 | 11.3 |
| Shullsburg Junior High | 6-8 | 77 | 11.0 |
Towns near Shullsburg
- Benton, WI7.6 mi · 946 people · home $157,400
- Darlington, WI8.3 mi · 923 people · home $271,000
- Darlington, WI9.2 mi · 2,462 people · home $155,100
- Elk Grove, WI10.1 mi · 566 people · home $270,800
- Gratiot, WI10.2 mi · 575 people · home $326,800
- Cuba City, WI10.2 mi · 2,138 people · home $188,600
- Apple Canyon Lake, IL10.4 mi · 574 people · home $329,400
- Hazel Green, WI10.6 mi · 1,173 people · home $165,700
Shullsburg questions
Is Shullsburg, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shullsburg scores better for retirees than 19% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 31%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Shullsburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Shullsburg is valued at $148,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,028, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $914 a month.
What is the weather like in Shullsburg?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 8.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 36.6 inches of snow.
Does Shullsburg get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shullsburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 8, 1988. 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)