Sauk County, Wisconsin
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 29% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 34% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 43% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B, better than 65% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B+, better than 70% of US counties
- top 7% for sales tax
- top 15% for unemployment
- bottom 9% for estimated total tax burden
Sauk County is a county in Wisconsin with about 66,000 residents. It grades B+ for lifestyle & connectivity and C for affordability. Standout strengths include sales tax, unemployment, and park & nature access. It rates lower on income tax and estimated total tax burden.
Official websiteco.sauk.wi.us (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
freezing
v.cold
cool
comf.
warm
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cold
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73%46%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.8 in1.5 in
humid 92%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$73k79th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$45kbetter than 48% of US counties
Home Value$228k75th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$914better than 33% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 22% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.56%better than 12% of US counties
Income Tax7.60%better than 11% of US counties
Sales Tax5.70%better than 93% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden14.35%better than 9% of US counties
Unemployment2.8%better than 85% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)19°F10th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)72°F19th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation38.2 in38th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall41.1 inbetter than 19% of US counties
Sunny Days212 daysbetter than 25% of US counties
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 69% of US counties
Comfortable Days86 daysbetter than 68% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk72.1better than 27% of US counties
Air Quality44 AQIbetter than 41% of US counties
School Quality68.5better than 72% of US counties
Violent Crime577/100kbetter than 65% of US counties
Property Crime1488/100kbetter than 26% of US counties
Community
Population65,66474th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age41.147th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.1628th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0154th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven16th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)89.0%68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.8%31st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)5.8%56th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.4%38th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.0%64th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time23 minbetter than 62% of US counties
Walkability6.8/20better than 70% of US counties
Airport Distance108 mibetter than 44% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access86.9%better than 73% of US counties
Amenities Nearby0.61better than 31% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 82% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Sauk County an affordable place to live?
- Sauk County is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $45k, better than 48% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Sauk County?
- The median home value in Sauk County is $228k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Sauk County?
- Median household income in Sauk County is $73k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Sauk County?
- Median gross rent in Sauk County is $914 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Sauk County safe?
- Sauk County is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 577/100k (better than 65%). Property crime is 1488/100k.
- What is the weather like in Sauk County?
- Sauk County averages 72°F in July and 19°F in January, with 38.2 in of annual precipitation and about 212 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Sauk County?
- Public-school quality in Sauk County is above average, scoring better than 72% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Sauk County?
- The average one-way commute in Sauk County is 23 min.
Other counties in Wisconsin
Explore Wisconsin
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)