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Athens, WI

Full City Profile · Wisconsin · Taylor County County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
1,005 Population 410/sq mi density
$49,904 Median Income $32,651 per capita
$168,100 Home Value $236,367 Zillow
$686 Median Rent 22.9% income on rent
42°F Avg Temperature 270 sunny days/yr
278 Violent Crime/100K 742 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.7 / 5.0
$49,904 median income, 1.8% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.8 / 5.0
$168,100 home value, $686/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
278 violent crimes/100K
D
Education
1.9 / 5.0
11.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Athens has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 42°F (6°C). Winters average 11°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 270 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 34.2 inches. The area receives 57.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38.

Temperature

11°F Jan (-11°C) 68°F Jul (20°C)
Annual Average41.8°F
23% below US avg
January Average11°F (-11°C)
July Average68°F (20°C)
Sunny Days270 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,408 ft (429 m)
Area2.5 sq mi (6.4 km²)
Population Density410/sq mi
Coordinates45.0349°N, 90.0792°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyTaylor County County
Nearest AirportChippewa Valley Regional (EAU)
70 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 34.2"
10% below US avg
Snowfall 57.0"
Wettest Month (Sep) 4.41"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.87"

Air Quality

AQI Median38.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0438 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)8.4 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score37.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability44.6 / 100
Community Resilience54.2 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane No Rating
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

1 earthquake (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M2.5. Most recent: M2.5 on Jan 7, 2024.

Jan 7, 2024 3 km NE of Mole Lake, Wisconsin M2.5 103 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

255 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 17 fatalities, 149 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Aug 31, 1977 EF4 28 km 0
Jun 4, 1958 EF4 98 km 4
Sep 26, 1951 EF4 100 km 6
Jun 25, 1950 EF4 72 km 2
Apr 10, 2011 EF3 17 km 0
Jun 7, 2007 EF3 85 km 0
Sep 2, 2002 EF3 95 km 0
Apr 27, 1984 EF3 74 km 1
Sep 28, 1971 EF3 38 km 0
Sep 28, 1971 EF3 76 km 0
Jun 4, 1958 EF3 86 km 0
May 3, 1955 EF3 43 km 0
Dec 15, 2021 EF2 73 km 0
Dec 15, 2021 EF2 82 km 0
Dec 15, 2021 EF2 63 km 0
Dec 15, 2021 EF2 79 km 0
Aug 23, 2011 EF2 49 km 0
Jun 7, 2007 EF2 55 km 0
Sep 30, 2002 EF2 50 km 0
Sep 2, 2002 EF2 60 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

17 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BIG BURN (3,154 ac, 1987).

Year Name Acres Distance
1987 BIG BURN 3,154 97 km
2024 2024 DOD HARDWOOD RANGE RX 2,717 89 km
1994 BIG BURN 2,248 98 km
2023 2023 RX 1,992 89 km
1997 BIG BURN 1,642 97 km
1998 UNNAMED 1,297 97 km
2019 RILEY 1,254 89 km
2021 2021 DOD HARDWOOD RANGE RX 987 89 km
2003 UNNAMED 901 98 km
2007 PR 16 778 98 km
1987 FOULDS CREEK 750 89 km
2022 UNNAMED 702 89 km
2006 PR 17 RX FIRE 701 97 km
2003 PR 17 632 97 km
2004 UNNAMED 580 94 km
2001 BIG BURN 565 97 km
2024 RX-UPPER SEVENTEEN 520 91 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 11°F (-11°C) 1.1 in Coldest
February 16°F (-9°C) 0.9 in Driest
March 27°F (-3°C) 1.8 in
April 41°F (5°C) 2.7 in
May 54°F (12°C) 3.5 in
June 63°F (17°C) 4.1 in
July 68°F (20°C) 3.9 in Warmest
August 65°F (18°C) 4.2 in
September 57°F (14°C) 4.4 in Wettest
October 45°F (7°C) 2.6 in
November 30°F (-1°C) 2.1 in
December 16°F (-9°C) 1.3 in

Athens has a seasonal temperature swing of 57°F / from 11°F in January to 68°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 32.5 inches, with September being the wettest month (4.4") and February the driest (0.9").

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