The Town FilesWilson, Wisconsin
Town in Dunn County · population 504 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $205,200
- Household income
- $87,054
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 42.1
Wilson is a town of 504 people in Dunn County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $205,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 85% of Wisconsin towns, better for retirees than 74% of Wisconsin towns.
How Wilson 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 Wilson is worth $205,200, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $87,054, which is more affordable than 90% of Wisconsin towns. 95.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wilson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | — | $951 |
| Median household income | $87,054 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 95.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.9% | — |
Who lives in Wilson
| People | Wilson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 29.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Wilson
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 2.4°F. About 35.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilson since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 5, 1997 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 25, 2008.
Severe weather in Dunn County since 1996
Dunn County has been included in 13 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 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| July 19, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1429: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dunn County
Dunn County had 18,047 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,935 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Wilson itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Towns near Wilson
- Sand Creek, WI6.0 mi · 603 people · home $193,400
- Dallas, WI6.7 mi · 570 people · home $239,800
- Hay River, WI7.4 mi · 627 people · home $247,200
- Sioux Creek, WI8.2 mi · 667 people · home $259,300
- Prairie Farm, WI9.4 mi · 566 people · home $235,400
- Auburn, WI11.0 mi · 776 people · home $287,800
- Tainter Lake, WI11.5 mi · 2,550 people · home $299,800
- Tainter, WI12.0 mi · 2,643 people · home $297,500
Wilson questions
Is Wilson, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wilson scores better for retirees than 74% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 85%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Wilson?
The median owner-occupied home in Wilson is valued at $205,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,054, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Wilson?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 2.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.6 inches of precipitation a year and 51.0 inches of snow.
Does Wilson get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 5, 1997. 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)