The Town FilesTownsend, Wisconsin
Town in Oconto County · population 1,044 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $252,900
- Household income
- $87,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 66.9
Townsend is a town of 1,044 people in Oconto County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $252,900, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 100% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 100% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 83% of Wisconsin towns.
How Townsend 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 Townsend is worth $252,900, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $87,857, which is more affordable than 68% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $621 a month. 95.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Townsend | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $252,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $621 | $951 |
| Median household income | $87,857 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 95.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 64.3% | — |
Who lives in Townsend
| People | Townsend | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 66.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 54.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 6.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 12.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 24.1% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Townsend
July highs average 78.5°F and January lows 4.3°F. About 32.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 188 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Townsend since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 7, 2007 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 7, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 13, 2004.
Severe weather in Oconto County since 1996
Oconto County has been included in 6 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 |
| June 17, 1976 | Drought | EM-3014: Drought |
Jobs and pay in Oconto County
Oconto County had 9,125 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,685 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Townsend itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Townsend
- Wolf River, WI8.1 mi · 783 people · home $193,200
- Wabeno, WI9.0 mi · 1,074 people · home $178,800
- Lakewood, WI9.8 mi · 831 people · home $234,200
- Riverview, WI11.2 mi · 819 people · home $191,100
- Mountain, WI15.5 mi · 832 people · home $205,400
- Laona, WI15.8 mi · 519 people · home $128,100
- Laona, WI15.8 mi · 1,215 people · home $191,800
- Silver Cliff, WI17.6 mi · 514 people · home $228,800
Townsend questions
Is Townsend, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Townsend scores better for retirees than 72% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 100%. 54.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 66.9).
How much does a house cost in Townsend?
The median owner-occupied home in Townsend is valued at $252,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,857, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $621 a month.
What is the weather like in Townsend?
July highs average 78.5°F and January lows 4.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 61.1 inches of snow.
Does Townsend get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Townsend since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 7, 2007. 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)