The Town FilesSmelser, Wisconsin
Town in Grant County · population 786 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $261,000
- Household income
- $72,358
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 57.9
Smelser is a town of 786 people in Grant County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $261,000, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 83% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 78% of Wisconsin towns.
How Smelser 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 Smelser is worth $261,000, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $72,358, which is more affordable than 27% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,050 a month. 93.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Smelser | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $261,000 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,050 | $951 |
| Median household income | $72,358 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 93.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Smelser
| People | Smelser | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 13.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Smelser
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 40.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smelser since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 9, 1970 about 7.8 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 65 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 2, 1969.
Severe weather in Grant County since 1996
Grant County has been included in 20 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 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
| August 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4141: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Grant County
Grant County had 17,200 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,501 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Smelser itself the ACS puts it at 12.5%.
Towns near Smelser
- Cuba City, WI3.7 mi · 2,138 people · home $188,600
- Platteville, WI4.7 mi · 1,513 people · home $340,100
- Dickeyville, WI5.7 mi · 1,015 people · home $193,400
- Hazel Green, WI6.1 mi · 1,084 people · home $254,300
- Platteville, WI6.2 mi · 11,836 people · home $200,100
- Paris, WI6.7 mi · 655 people · home $278,700
- Elk Grove, WI6.7 mi · 566 people · home $270,800
- Benton, WI7.1 mi · 946 people · home $157,400
Smelser questions
Is Smelser, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Smelser scores better for retirees than 78% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 25%. 34.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.9).
How much does a house cost in Smelser?
The median owner-occupied home in Smelser is valued at $261,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,358, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,050 a month.
What is the weather like in Smelser?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.0 inches of precipitation a year and 39.6 inches of snow.
Does Smelser get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smelser since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 9, 1970. 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)