The Town FilesWaunakee, Wisconsin
Village in Dane County · population 14,879 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $515,900
- Household income
- $125,220
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 39.6
Waunakee is a village of 14,879 people in Dane County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $515,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more upscale than 99% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 98% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
How Waunakee 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 Waunakee is worth $515,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $125,220, which is more affordable than 11% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,324 a month. 77.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waunakee | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $515,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,324 | $951 |
| Median household income | $125,220 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 77.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Waunakee
| People | Waunakee | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 24.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Waunakee
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 11.8°F. About 37.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.8 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waunakee since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 7, 1984 about 7.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 47 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 7, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 168 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Dane County since 1996
Dane County has been included in 19 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 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dane County
Dane County had 359,249 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $74,481 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Waunakee itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Waunakee
7 public schools with 4,410 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waunakee High | 9-12 | 1,346 | 13.3 |
| Waunakee Middle | 7-8 | 681 | 11.2 |
| Waunakee Intermediate | 5-6 | 620 | 11.3 |
| Waunakee Heritage Elementary | PK-4 | 575 | 11.7 |
| Waunakee Prairie Elementary | PK-4 | 524 | 12.2 |
| Arboretum Elementary | PK-4 | 427 | 13.8 |
| Waunakee Community 4K School | PK-PK | 237 | 29.6 |
Towns near Waunakee
- Westport, WI1.4 mi · 4,191 people · home $418,700
- Springfield, WI5.3 mi · 2,929 people · home $554,700
- Burke, WI5.6 mi · 3,265 people · home $368,500
- DeForest, WI6.0 mi · 10,811 people · home $359,600
- Middleton, WI6.1 mi · 21,827 people · home $484,200
- Madison, WI6.6 mi · 269,840 people · home $372,900
- Windsor, WI9.3 mi · 8,754 people · home $425,600
- Middleton, WI9.6 mi · 6,792 people · home $689,400
Waunakee questions
Is Waunakee, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waunakee scores better for retirees than 90% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 11%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Waunakee?
The median owner-occupied home in Waunakee is valued at $515,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $125,220, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,324 a month.
What is the weather like in Waunakee?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 11.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.1 inches of precipitation a year and 51.8 inches of snow.
Does Waunakee get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waunakee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 7, 1984. 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)