© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Waupun.
About
Life in Waupun
Waupun is a community of 11,244 people in Wisconsin. The median household income is $65,625, median rent runs about $951 per month, and median home values are around $188,600. Unemployment is low at 2.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Waupun at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Foreign-Born
3.2%
Broadband Internet
90.8%
of households
Population Growth
-3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.2% foreign-born, most often from Albania
Who lives in Waupun: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Waupun, the largest foreign-born group is from Albania (26.8%), and 6.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.7%
of residents
65 and Older
14.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.6%
of households
Married Couples
44.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.54
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 13% below WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Waupun
In Waupun, rent runs 13% below the WI average, and home values are 29% below the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
27.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.8%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,575
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1968
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $270,474 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below WI average
Unemployment in Waupun
Unemployment in Dodge County, which includes Waupun, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Waupun: Dodge County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Dodge County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Waupun Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.9 min avg
How Waupun residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Waupun, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 44 mi
Appleton International Airport (ATW)
Small hub629k passengers boarded in 2025
- 63 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 121 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 15% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Waupun runs 15% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
281.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
399
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Waupun Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
69.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dodge County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dodge County, which includes Waupun, the most common type is winter weather, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Winter Weather | $7.3M |
| 2024 | 25 | Winter Weather | $92,000 |
| 2023 | 17 | Winter Weather | $16,000 |
| 2022 | 25 | Winter Weather | $82,500 |
| 2021 | 15 | Winter Weather | $11,000 |
| 2020 | 15 | Winter Weather | $45,000 |
| 2019 | 23 | Winter Weather | $41,500 |
| 2018 | 23 | Winter Weather | $191,000 |
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
Dodge County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dodge County, which includes Waupun, is typically good — 264 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
264
per year
Moderate Days
94
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Dodge County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 11°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Waupun has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 11°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
29°/11°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.8"
Annual Snowfall
43.3"
Hot Days/Year
5
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
157
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
136
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25°F | 8°F | 1.64" |
| Feb | 29°F | 11°F | 1.68" |
| Mar | 41°F | 22°F | 2.43" |
| Apr | 55°F | 34°F | 3.77" |
| May | 68°F | 47°F | 4.42" |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 5.00" |
| Jul | 81°F | 60°F | 4.14" |
| Aug | 79°F | 58°F | 3.75" |
| Sep | 72°F | 50°F | 3.57" |
| Oct | 59°F | 39°F | 3.12" |
| Nov | 44°F | 27°F | 2.34" |
| Dec | 31°F | 15°F | 1.95" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Waupun
Waupun has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Waupun Memorial Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Marshfield Medical Center - Beaver Dam (mmc-bd)
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.4 mi away · Beaver Dam
Ripon Medical Center
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 14.7 mi away · Ripon
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.
Education14.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Waupun
Waupun's student/teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 15.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 48 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Waupun
Waupun has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (48 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
48 mi awayPublic Libraries in Waupun
Waupun Public Library
123 S. Forest St., Waupun
Cities Near Waupun
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Waupun?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Waupun FAQ
Is Waupun, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Waupun's median rent is $951/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $65,625/year. Median home value is $188,600.
Is Waupun, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Waupun's violent crime rate was 281 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 399 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Waupun, Wisconsin?⌄
Dodge County, which includes Waupun, has an unemployment rate of 2.7%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Waupun, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Waupun is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $951/month and median household income is $65,625/year. The median home value is $188,600. About 28% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Waupun, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Waupun is 18 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