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Living in
Stoughton.
About
Life in Stoughton
Stoughton is a community of 13,063 people in Wisconsin. The median household income is $79,551, median rent runs about $1,155 per month, and median home values are around $293,500. Unemployment is low at 2.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Stoughton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Foreign-Born
2.2%
Broadband Internet
90.7%
of households
Population Growth
+0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.2% foreign-born, most often from Other Northern Europe
Who lives in Stoughton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Stoughton, the largest foreign-born group is from Other Northern Europe (16.6%), and 1.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.0%
of residents
65 and Older
19.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.4%
of households
Married Couples
47.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.33
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 6% above WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Stoughton
In Stoughton, rent runs 6% above the WI average, and home values are 10% above the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,216
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $431,758 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below WI average
Unemployment in Stoughton and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Dane County, which includes Stoughton, is 0.6 percentage points lower than the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Stoughton: Dane County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Dane County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Stoughton is about 2% of Dane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Stoughton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Madison, WI metro area
Commute22.2 min avg
How Stoughton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Stoughton, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN)
Small hub1.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 67 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 93 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 72% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Stoughton runs 72% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
91.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,165.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Stoughton Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dane County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dane County, which includes Stoughton, the most common type is winter weather, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Winter Weather | $40,000 |
| 2024 | 34 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.3M |
| 2023 | 18 | Winter Storm | $144,000 |
| 2022 | 33 | Winter Weather | $388,000 |
| 2021 | 22 | Winter Weather | $32,000 |
| 2020 | 19 | Winter Weather | $40,500 |
| 2019 | 33 | Winter Weather | $204,500 |
| 2018 | 29 | Winter Weather | $37.9M |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Dane County, county-wide
Stoughton is about 2% of Dane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dane County, which includes Stoughton, is typically good — 246 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
246
per year
Moderate Days
113
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Dane County, county-wide
Stoughton is about 2% of Dane County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 13°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Stoughton has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 13°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/38°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
30°/13°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.8"
Annual Snowfall
35.5"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
154
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
106
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°F | 10°F | 1.62" |
| Feb | 31°F | 13°F | 1.68" |
| Mar | 44°F | 23°F | 2.20" |
| Apr | 57°F | 34°F | 3.94" |
| May | 69°F | 46°F | 4.28" |
| Jun | 79°F | 57°F | 5.22" |
| Jul | 83°F | 61°F | 3.79" |
| Aug | 81°F | 59°F | 4.26" |
| Sep | 74°F | 50°F | 3.54" |
| Oct | 61°F | 39°F | 2.98" |
| Nov | 46°F | 27°F | 2.51" |
| Dec | 33°F | 16°F | 1.77" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Stoughton
Stoughton has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Stoughton Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Edgerton Hospital and Health Services
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 11 mi away · Edgerton
Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital - Madison
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13 mi away · Madison
Unitypoint Health - Meriter
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.3 mi away · Madison
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.
Education14.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Stoughton
Stoughton's student/teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 39.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
39.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Stoughton (within 15 miles)
University of Wisconsin-Madison
13.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 36,902 students · in-state tuition $12,166 · 90% graduate · median earnings $80,330 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,107 students · in-state tuition $37,120 · 64% graduate · median earnings $64,869 (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, 76 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Stoughton
Stoughton has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (76 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
76 mi awayEffigy Mounds National Monument
National Monument
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Stoughton
Stoughton Public Library
304 S. 4th St., Stoughton
Cities Near Stoughton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Stoughton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Stoughton FAQ
Is Stoughton, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Stoughton's median rent is $1,157/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $79,551/year. Median home value is $293,500.
Is Stoughton, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Stoughton's violent crime rate was 91 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1165 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Stoughton, Wisconsin?⌄
Dane County, which includes Stoughton, has an unemployment rate of 2.6%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Stoughton, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Stoughton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,157/month and median household income is $79,551/year. The median home value is $293,500. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Stoughton, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Stoughton is 22 minutes, which is about 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