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Living in
Fort Atkinson.
About
Life in Fort Atkinson
Fort Atkinson is a community of 12,490 people in Wisconsin. The median household income is $79,302, median rent runs about $957 per month, and median home values are around $211,800. Unemployment is low at 2.9%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Fort Atkinson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Foreign-Born
7.5%
Broadband Internet
90.7%
of households
Population Growth
-1.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Fort Atkinson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fort Atkinson, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (57.3%), and 12.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.0%
of residents
65 and Older
18.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.0%
of households
Married Couples
45.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.26
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 12% below WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Fort Atkinson
In Fort Atkinson, rent runs 12% below the WI average, and home values are 21% below the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.7%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,637
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1964
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $309,252 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Fort Atkinson
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes Fort Atkinson, is close to the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Fort Atkinson: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Fort Atkinson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.2 min avg
How Fort Atkinson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fort Atkinson, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 29 mi
Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN)
Small hub1.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 48 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 81 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 33% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Fort Atkinson runs 33% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
219
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
421.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Fort Atkinson Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
75.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jefferson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jefferson County, which includes Fort Atkinson, the most common type is winter weather, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Winter Weather | $4,000 |
| 2024 | 21 | Winter Weather | $93,000 |
| 2023 | 20 | Hail | $512,000 |
| 2022 | 23 | Winter Weather | $54,000 |
| 2021 | 17 | Winter Weather | $23,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2019 | 29 | Winter Weather | $72,000 |
| 2018 | 28 | Winter Weather | $1.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes Fort Atkinson, is typically good.
Median AQI
40
Jefferson County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 14°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fort Atkinson has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 14°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
31°/14°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.5"
Annual Snowfall
36.4"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
146
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 11°F | 1.51" |
| Feb | 32°F | 14°F | 1.43" |
| Mar | 44°F | 25°F | 1.96" |
| Apr | 57°F | 36°F | 3.56" |
| May | 69°F | 48°F | 4.13" |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 4.98" |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 4.03" |
| Aug | 81°F | 60°F | 3.86" |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 3.33" |
| Oct | 61°F | 40°F | 2.84" |
| Nov | 46°F | 29°F | 2.20" |
| Dec | 33°F | 18°F | 1.71" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fort Atkinson
Fort Atkinson has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Fort Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Edgerton Hospital and Health Services
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 11.9 mi away · Edgerton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fort Atkinson
Fort Atkinson's student/teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 26.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Fort Atkinson (within 15 miles)
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
8.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 9,405 students · in-state tuition $9,047 · 66% graduate · median earnings $59,084 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 82 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fort Atkinson
Fort Atkinson has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (82 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
82 mi awayPublic Libraries in Fort Atkinson
Dwight Foster Public Library
209 Merchants Ave., Fort Atkinson
Cities Near Fort Atkinson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fort Atkinson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fort Atkinson FAQ
Is Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Fort Atkinson's median rent is $961/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $79,302/year. Median home value is $211,800.
Is Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Fort Atkinson's violent crime rate was 219 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 422 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes Fort Atkinson, has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Fort Atkinson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $961/month and median household income is $79,302/year. The median home value is $211,800. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Fort Atkinson is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from