What are the schools like in Jefferson, WI?

Jefferson is served primarily by Jefferson School District. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.3:1.

What is the median household income in Jefferson?

The median household income in Jefferson, WI is $69,844 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Jefferson, WI?

Jefferson has an average high temperature of 26.8°F in January and 82.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 42.3 inches.

Jefferson, WI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Jefferson, WI affordable or expensive?

Jefferson's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Jefferson is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $203,100 and the median rent is $969 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Jefferson, WI?

Jefferson has a violent crime rate of 250.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1369.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Jefferson, WI a Good Place to Live?

Jefferson is a small town of 7,778 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $69,844 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Jefferson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Jefferson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Jefferson city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 94.4

Jefferson's overall cost of living index is 94.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Jefferson costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Jefferson, WI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$203,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$969	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$69,844	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Jefferson's violent crime rate is 250.2 per 100,000 residents — 34% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

250.2 /100k

Property Crime

1369.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Jefferson is served primarily by Jefferson School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Jefferson, WI	National Avg
School District	Jefferson School District	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Jefferson sees average highs of 26.8°F in January and 82.4°F in July, with 38.7 inches of annual precipitation and 42.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Jefferson, WI
Average High — January	26.8°F
Average High — July	82.4°F
Annual Precipitation	38.7"
Annual Snowfall	42.3"

Demographics

Metric	Jefferson, WI	National Avg
Population	7,778	—
Median Age	44.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	10.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	18.8%	22.2%
65 and over	17.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Johnson Creek, WI 6 mi Helenville, WI 6 mi Fort Atkinson, WI 6 mi Lake Mills, WI 7 mi Rome, WI 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Jefferson

Jefferson, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

53549

Jefferson vs Other Cities

Jefferson, WI vs Johnson Creek, WI Jefferson, WI vs Helenville, WI Jefferson, WI vs Fort Atkinson, WI Jefferson, WI vs Lake Mills, WI Jefferson, WI vs Rome, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jefferson, WI affordable or expensive?

Jefferson's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Jefferson roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $203,100 and median rent is $969/month.

What is the crime rate in Jefferson, WI?

Jefferson's violent crime rate is 250.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1369.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Jefferson?

Public schools in Jefferson are operated by Jefferson School District. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Jefferson, WI a good place to live?

Jefferson, WI has a population of 7,778, a median household income of $69,844, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Jefferson?

Jefferson averages 26.8°F in January and 82.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.7 inches with about 42.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Jefferson?

Jefferson, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 53549.

What is the population of Jefferson?

The population of Jefferson, Wisconsin is 7,778 with a median age of 44.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Jefferson?

Key numbers for living in Jefferson: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $203,100, median household income $69,844, crime index 66 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Jefferson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.