The Town FilesWashington, Wisconsin
Town in Vilas County · population 1,587 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $334,700
- Household income
- $85,379
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 77 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 56.6
Washington is a town of 1,587 people in Vilas County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $334,700, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks quieter than 94% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 93% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 83% 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 $334,700, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $85,379, which is more affordable than 16% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $894 a month. 95.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $334,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $894 | $951 |
| Median household income | $85,379 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 95.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 55.1% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 12.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 2.2°F. About 32.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 76.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 191 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 13, 1981 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 9, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 5, 1999.
Severe weather in Vilas County since 1996
Vilas County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Tornado | DR-4949: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| August 16, 1999 | Flood | DR-1284: Wi-Flood-07/20/99 |
Jobs and pay in Vilas County
Vilas County had 8,275 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,114 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near Washington
- Lincoln, WI5.8 mi · 2,659 people · home $290,600
- Eagle River, WI6.0 mi · 1,628 people · home $213,900
- Phelps, WI8.0 mi · 1,238 people · home $240,100
- Three Lakes, WI9.4 mi · 2,413 people · home $325,500
- Three Lakes, WI9.6 mi · 605 people · home $170,000
- Conover, WI10.9 mi · 1,318 people · home $273,600
- Cloverland, WI11.0 mi · 1,068 people · home $272,000
- Sugar Camp, WI13.9 mi · 1,819 people · home $280,700
Washington questions
Is Washington, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 83% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 94%. 31.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.6).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $334,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,379, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $894 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 2.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.1 inches of precipitation a year and 76.5 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 13, 1981. 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)