The Town FilesSumner, Wisconsin
Town in Trempealeau County · population 840 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $246,600
- Household income
- $73,450
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 41.7
Sumner is a town of 840 people in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $246,600, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 77% of Wisconsin towns, better transit than 72% of Wisconsin towns.
How Sumner 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 Sumner is worth $246,600, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $73,450, which is more affordable than 37% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $988 a month. 90.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sumner | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $246,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $988 | $951 |
| Median household income | $73,450 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 90.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Sumner
| People | Sumner | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Sumner
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 3.8°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sumner since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 10, 1953 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 19, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 13, 2015.
Severe weather in Trempealeau County since 1996
Trempealeau County has been included in 15 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 |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Trempealeau County
Trempealeau County had 12,492 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Sumner itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Towns near Sumner
- Osseo, WI1.5 mi · 1,811 people · home $181,600
- Garfield, WI4.9 mi · 756 people · home $250,000
- Unity, WI6.4 mi · 511 people · home $333,300
- Hale, WI7.3 mi · 1,061 people · home $361,700
- Northfield, WI8.0 mi · 674 people · home $265,300
- Strum, WI8.5 mi · 1,076 people · home $200,000
- Clear Creek, WI8.5 mi · 778 people · home $226,900
- Augusta, WI9.6 mi · 1,567 people · home $148,400
Sumner questions
Is Sumner, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sumner scores better for retirees than 32% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 32%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Sumner?
The median owner-occupied home in Sumner is valued at $246,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,450, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $988 a month.
What is the weather like in Sumner?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 3.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 48.4 inches of snow.
Does Sumner get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sumner since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 10, 1953. 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)