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Sun Prairie, WI

Full City Profile · Wisconsin · Dane County County

3.8 /5.0
B+ Good
36,455 Population 2,785/sq mi density
$90,521 Median Income $45,715 per capita
$339,800 Home Value $428,907 Zillow
$1,374 Median Rent 27.7% income on rent
47°F Avg Temperature 260 sunny days/yr
95 Violent Crime/100K 1,441 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.8 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.8 / 5.0
$90,521 median income, 1.5% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.6 / 5.0
$339,800 home value, $1,374/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
95 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
50.9% bachelor's degree or higher
Sun Prairie experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 37.1 inches. The area receives 51.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38.

Temperature

19°F Jan (-7°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average47.0°F
13% below US avg
January Average19°F (-7°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days260 days/yr

Geography

Elevation988 ft (301 m)
Area12.0 sq mi (31.2 km²)
Population Density2,785/sq mi
Coordinates43.1826°N, 89.2378°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyDane County County
Nearest AirportDane County Regional/Truax Field (MSN)
6 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 37.1"
2% below US avg
Snowfall 51.8"
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
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)10.0 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score93.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability15.9 / 100
Community Resilience97.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

3 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.8. Most recent: M2.9 on Mar 25, 2015.

Feb 10, 2010 2 km NW of Lily Lake, Illinois M3.8 148 km
Mar 25, 2015 3 km WNW of Lake in the Hills, Illinois M2.9 132 km
Jun 10, 2013 4 km NNE of Virgil, Illinois M2.6 145 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

581 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 32 fatalities, 713 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jul 18, 1996 EF5 76 km 0
Jun 7, 1984 EF5 65 km 9
Apr 27, 1984 EF4 74 km 1
Jul 3, 1983 EF4 76 km 0
Apr 4, 1981 EF4 88 km 3
Apr 21, 1974 EF4 71 km 0
Apr 3, 1956 EF4 86 km 7
Sep 26, 1951 EF4 32 km 1
Jun 16, 2014 EF3 33 km 0
Jan 7, 2008 EF3 94 km 0
Aug 18, 2005 EF3 33 km 1
Jun 23, 2004 EF3 59 km 1
Jun 23, 2004 EF3 62 km 0
Jun 17, 1992 EF3 41 km 0
Jun 8, 1984 EF3 30 km 0
Jun 5, 1980 EF3 38 km 0
Apr 7, 1980 EF3 40 km 0
Jun 5, 1977 EF3 82 km 0
Jun 4, 1975 EF3 5 km 0
Apr 21, 1974 EF3 57 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

10 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (1,524 ac, 2006).

Year Name Acres Distance
2006 UNNAMED 1,524 63 km
2010 RX BURN 1,236 63 km
1994 SOMMERS 938 62 km
1988 PEACHY RD 812 60 km
2018 2018 BADGER RX BURNS 659 47 km
2019 2019 BADGER RX BURNS 627 46 km
2006 UNNAMED 612 63 km
2007 TOWER RD 2 592 60 km
2024 RX-HWY Y - SOUTH 553 47 km
2009 COLD SPRINGS 552 65 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 19°F (-7°C) 1.2 in Coldest, Driest
February 21°F (-6°C) 1.2 in
March 33°F (0°C) 2.2 in
April 46°F (8°C) 3.3 in
May 58°F (14°C) 3.4 in
June 67°F (20°C) 3.9 in
July 72°F (22°C) 3.9 in Warmest
August 69°F (20°C) 4.1 in Wettest
September 61°F (16°C) 3.6 in
October 49°F (10°C) 2.3 in
November 35°F (2°C) 2.3 in
December 22°F (-6°C) 1.7 in

Sun Prairie has a seasonal temperature swing of 53°F / from 19°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 33.0 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.1") and January the driest (1.2").

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