The Town FilesSwiss, Wisconsin
Town in Burnett County · population 807 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $252,500
- Household income
- $63,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 59.6
Swiss is a town of 807 people in Burnett County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $252,500, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 97% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 95% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 93% of Wisconsin towns.
How Swiss 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 Swiss is worth $252,500, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $63,000, which is more affordable than 13% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $443 a month. 87.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Swiss | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $252,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $443 | $951 |
| Median household income | $63,000 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 87.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 66.6% | — |
Who lives in Swiss
| People | Swiss | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.2% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Swiss
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 2.2°F. About 30.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Swiss since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 11, 2005 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2005.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 18, 2004.
Severe weather in Burnett County since 1996
Burnett County has been included in 10 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 |
| August 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4276: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Burnett County
Burnett County had 5,070 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,320 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Swiss itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Towns near Swiss
- Oakland, WI5.5 mi · 980 people · home $244,900
- Jackson, WI6.4 mi · 935 people · home $242,400
- Webster, WI10.7 mi · 694 people · home $116,800
- Sand Lake, WI11.4 mi · 576 people · home $280,800
- Scott, WI11.4 mi · 583 people · home $341,400
- Meenon, WI12.2 mi · 1,212 people · home $199,700
- Siren, WI17.7 mi · 1,004 people · home $246,000
- Siren, WI17.7 mi · 824 people · home $190,400
Swiss questions
Is Swiss, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Swiss scores better for retirees than 76% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 97%. 37.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.6).
How much does a house cost in Swiss?
The median owner-occupied home in Swiss is valued at $252,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,000, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $443 a month.
What is the weather like in Swiss?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 2.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.1 inches of precipitation a year and 52.6 inches of snow.
Does Swiss get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Swiss since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 11, 2005. 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)