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Rio, WI

Full City Profile · Wisconsin · Columbia County County

3.9 /5.0
B+ Good
1,068 Population 854/sq mi density
$68,304 Median Income $35,486 per capita
$174,800 Home Value $243,944 Zillow
$789 Median Rent 18.1% income on rent
46°F Avg Temperature 260 sunny days/yr
B+
Overall
3.9 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.0 / 5.0
$68,304 median income, 1.4% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$174,800 home value, $789/mo rent
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
20.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Rio experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 18°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 35.5 inches. The area receives 42.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38.

Temperature

18°F Jan (-8°C) 71°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average46.0°F
15% below US avg
January Average18°F (-8°C)
July Average71°F (22°C)
Sunny Days260 days/yr

Geography

Elevation927 ft (283 m)
Area1.2 sq mi (3.2 km²)
Population Density854/sq mi
Coordinates43.4522°N, 89.2416°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyColumbia County County
Nearest AirportDane County Regional/Truax Field (MSN)
22 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 35.5"
7% below US avg
Snowfall 42.6"
Wettest Month (Aug) 4.06"
Driest Month (Jan) 1.18"

Air Quality

AQI Median38.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0501 ppm

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score81.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability24.0 / 100
Community Resilience91.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Very High
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Tornado History

565 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 47 fatalities, 765 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jul 18, 1996 EF5 57 km 0
Jun 7, 1984 EF5 80 km 9
Apr 27, 1984 EF4 88 km 1
Apr 27, 1984 EF4 80 km 1
Jul 3, 1983 EF4 90 km 0
Apr 4, 1981 EF4 84 km 3
Apr 21, 1974 EF4 47 km 0
Apr 19, 1957 EF4 89 km 1
Apr 3, 1956 EF4 57 km 7
Sep 26, 1951 EF4 98 km 6
Sep 26, 1951 EF4 2 km 1
Jun 16, 2014 EF3 56 km 0
Aug 18, 2005 EF3 61 km 1
Jun 23, 2004 EF3 34 km 0
Jun 23, 2004 EF3 34 km 1
Aug 27, 1994 EF3 90 km 2
Aug 29, 1992 EF3 72 km 1
Jun 17, 1992 EF3 68 km 0
Jun 8, 1984 EF3 1 km 0
Jun 5, 1980 EF3 52 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

14 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: COTTONVILLE INCIDENT (3,466 ac, 2005).

Year Name Acres Distance
2005 COTTONVILLE INCIDENT 3,466 83 km
2006 UNNAMED 1,524 51 km
2010 RX BURN 1,236 51 km
1994 SOMMERS 938 47 km
2007 UNNAMED 875 100 km
1988 PEACHY RD 812 47 km
2018 2018 BADGER RX BURNS 659 42 km
2019 2019 BADGER RX BURNS 627 42 km
2006 UNNAMED 612 47 km
2007 TOWER RD 2 592 47 km
1987 UNNAMED 560 100 km
2024 RX-HWY Y - SOUTH 553 67 km
2009 COLD SPRINGS 552 92 km
2007 UNNAMED 539 99 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 18°F (-8°C) 1.2 in Coldest, Driest
February 21°F (-6°C) 1.2 in
March 32°F (0°C) 2.2 in
April 46°F (8°C) 3.3 in
May 58°F (14°C) 3.5 in
June 67°F (19°C) 3.9 in
July 71°F (22°C) 3.9 in Warmest
August 69°F (20°C) 4.1 in Wettest
September 61°F (16°C) 3.7 in
October 49°F (9°C) 2.4 in
November 35°F (2°C) 2.3 in
December 22°F (-6°C) 1.6 in

Rio has a seasonal temperature swing of 53°F / from 18°F in January to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 33.3 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.1") and January the driest (1.2").

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