The Town FilesWisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
City in Columbia County · population 2,942 (2020 Census) · spans 4 counties
- Median home
- $207,100
- Household income
- $54,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 42.8
Wisconsin Dells is a city of 2,942 people in Columbia County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $207,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better transit than 91% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 81% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 74% of Wisconsin towns.
How Wisconsin Dells 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 Wisconsin Dells is worth $207,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $54,688, which is more affordable than 19% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $971 a month. 54.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wisconsin Dells | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $207,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $971 | $951 |
| Median household income | $54,688 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 54.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.2% | — |
Who lives in Wisconsin Dells
| People | Wisconsin Dells | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 69.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Wisconsin Dells
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 8.0°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wisconsin Dells since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 15, 1966 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 7, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 26, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1719: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 21,963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,667 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Wisconsin Dells itself the ACS puts it at 15.5%.
Public schools in Wisconsin Dells
3 public schools with 1,609 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 654 | 12.6 |
| Wisconsin Dells High | 9-12 | 577 | 17.5 |
| Wisconsin Dells Middle School | 6-8 | 378 | 16.4 |
Towns near Wisconsin Dells
- Lake Delton, WI3.3 mi · 3,501 people · home $178,300
- Baraboo, WI11.9 mi · 12,556 people · home $222,100
- Reedsburg, WI13.1 mi · 9,984 people · home $229,100
- Portage, WI16.7 mi · 10,581 people · home $204,900
- Mauston, WI18.8 mi · 4,347 people · home $150,200
- Pacific, WI20.5 mi · 2,791 people · home $285,600
- Lake Wisconsin, WI20.9 mi · 4,616 people · home $452,400
- Dekorra, WI22.3 mi · 2,500 people · home $370,600
Wisconsin Dells questions
Is Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wisconsin Dells scores better for retirees than 8% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 54%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Wisconsin Dells?
The median owner-occupied home in Wisconsin Dells is valued at $207,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,688, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $971 a month.
What is the weather like in Wisconsin Dells?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 8.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 40.7 inches of snow.
Does Wisconsin Dells get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wisconsin Dells since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 15, 1966. 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)