The Town FilesWaupaca, Wisconsin
City in Waupaca County · population 6,282 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $175,600
- Household income
- $52,727
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 42.1
Waupaca is a city of 6,282 people in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $175,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 93% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 93% of Wisconsin towns.
How Waupaca 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 Waupaca is worth $175,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $52,727, which is more affordable than 43% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $783 a month. 61.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waupaca | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $175,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $783 | $951 |
| Median household income | $52,727 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 61.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Waupaca
| People | Waupaca | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Waupaca
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waupaca since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 26, 1951 about 7.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 15, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 22, 2011.
Severe weather in Waupaca County since 1996
Waupaca County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Waupaca County
Waupaca County had 18,649 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,246 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Waupaca itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Waupaca
5 public schools with 2,015 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waupaca Learning Center Elementary | PK-4 | 620 | 11.1 |
| Waupaca High | 9-12 | 605 | 14.1 |
| Waupaca Middle | 5-8 | 536 | 12.5 |
| Chain Exploration Center (charter) | PK-8 | 133 | 12.1 |
| Waupaca Community 4-Year Old Kindergarten | PK-PK | 121 | 24.2 |
Towns near Waupaca
- Farmington, WI5.4 mi · 3,712 people · home $251,500
- Dayton, WI6.7 mi · 2,644 people · home $254,400
- Mukwa, WI13.3 mi · 2,830 people · home $316,700
- New London, WI16.7 mi · 7,348 people · home $174,800
- Stockton, WI19.7 mi · 3,018 people · home $290,100
- Dale, WI19.8 mi · 2,869 people · home $357,400
- Hortonville, WI21.4 mi · 3,028 people · home $263,900
- Winneconne, WI24.2 mi · 2,544 people · home $218,100
Waupaca questions
Is Waupaca, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waupaca scores better for retirees than 69% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 19%. 23.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Waupaca?
The median owner-occupied home in Waupaca is valued at $175,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,727, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $783 a month.
What is the weather like in Waupaca?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 49.3 inches of snow.
Does Waupaca get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waupaca since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 26, 1951. 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)