The Town FilesSylvester, Wisconsin
Town in Green County · population 1,001 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $347,700
- Household income
- $111,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 49.8
Sylvester is a town of 1,001 people in Green County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $347,700, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Wisconsin towns, more upscale than 75% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 71% of Wisconsin towns.
How Sylvester 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 Sylvester is worth $347,700, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $111,375, which is more affordable than 55% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $959 a month. 88.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sylvester | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $347,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $959 | $951 |
| Median household income | $111,375 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 88.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Sylvester
| People | Sylvester | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Sylvester
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 10.9°F. About 39.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sylvester since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 16, 1967 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 17, 2026.
Severe weather in Green County since 1996
Green County has been included in 17 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 |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 19, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3285: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Green County
Green County had 15,543 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,430 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Sylvester itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Towns near Sylvester
- Monroe, WI5.4 mi · 10,661 people · home $195,300
- Decatur, WI5.9 mi · 1,685 people · home $300,000
- Jefferson, WI6.0 mi · 1,170 people · home $231,300
- Monroe, WI6.7 mi · 1,291 people · home $307,100
- Albany, WI7.1 mi · 1,096 people · home $173,200
- Monticello, WI7.6 mi · 1,192 people · home $213,600
- Washington, WI8.5 mi · 842 people · home $292,300
- Brodhead, WI8.7 mi · 3,274 people · home $168,800
Sylvester questions
Is Sylvester, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sylvester scores better for retirees than 53% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 36%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.8).
How much does a house cost in Sylvester?
The median owner-occupied home in Sylvester is valued at $347,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $111,375, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $959 a month.
What is the weather like in Sylvester?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 10.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.7 inches of precipitation a year and 41.5 inches of snow.
Does Sylvester get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sylvester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 16, 1967. 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)