The Town FilesWashington, Wisconsin
Town in La Crosse County · population 519 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $275,500
- Household income
- $76,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 36.4
Washington is a town of 519 people in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $275,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 82% of Wisconsin towns, more upscale than 81% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 78% of Wisconsin towns.
How Washington 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 Washington is worth $275,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $76,875, which is more affordable than 27% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,488 a month. 85.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $275,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,488 | $951 |
| Median household income | $76,875 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 85.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 2.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 23.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 8.1°F. About 36.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 5, 1980 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 28, 2023.
Severe weather in La Crosse County since 1996
La Crosse County has been included in 18 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 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
Jobs and pay in La Crosse County
La Crosse County had 69,521 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,448 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 0.3%.
Towns near Washington
- Coon, WI5.0 mi · 729 people · home $360,700
- Coon Valley, WI5.0 mi · 758 people · home $197,300
- Greenfield, WI5.5 mi · 2,187 people · home $280,200
- Bangor, WI5.9 mi · 617 people · home $391,800
- Portland, WI7.2 mi · 833 people · home $350,000
- Barre, WI7.5 mi · 1,267 people · home $384,400
- Hamburg, WI8.0 mi · 956 people · home $377,200
- Leon, WI8.5 mi · 1,144 people · home $282,200
Washington questions
Is Washington, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 78% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 42%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $275,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,875, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,488 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 8.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.7 inches of precipitation a year and 50.1 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 5, 1980. 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)