The Town FilesStephenson, Wisconsin
Town in Marinette County · population 3,494 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,600
- Household income
- $56,550
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 58 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 61.3
Stephenson is a town of 3,494 people in Marinette County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $174,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 92% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Wisconsin towns, better transit than 74% of Wisconsin towns.
How Stephenson 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 Stephenson is worth $174,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $56,550, which is more affordable than 55% of Wisconsin towns. 91.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stephenson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $56,550 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 91.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 55.7% | — |
Who lives in Stephenson
| People | Stephenson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Stephenson
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 4.0°F. About 32.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 58.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stephenson since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 28, 1971 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 15, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 8, 2000.
Severe weather in Marinette County since 1996
Marinette County has been included in 7 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 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| July 19, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1429: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Marinette County
Marinette County had 17,599 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,321 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Stephenson itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Towns near Stephenson
- Peshtigo, WI22.7 mi · 3,420 people · home $140,300
- Menominee, MI24.1 mi · 3,364 people · home $185,100
- Oconto Falls, WI26.0 mi · 2,957 people · home $162,800
- Menominee, MI26.3 mi · 8,488 people · home $104,400
- Marinette, WI26.8 mi · 11,119 people · home $120,200
- Oconto, WI27.4 mi · 4,609 people · home $148,700
- Peshtigo, WI29.4 mi · 4,006 people · home $213,700
Stephenson questions
Is Stephenson, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stephenson scores better for retirees than 58% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 92%. 40.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.3).
How much does a house cost in Stephenson?
The median owner-occupied home in Stephenson is valued at $174,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,550, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Stephenson?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 4.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.1 inches of precipitation a year and 58.3 inches of snow.
Does Stephenson get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stephenson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 28, 1971. 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)