In and about Milton, Wis, 1860
Milton’s story
188 years in pictures
Census counts: 508 in 1880, 5,716 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1845 and 4 maps from 1891 on.
- 1838Milton is settled
Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
3,129
2025 Census estimate · +0.9% since 2020
Median home value
$348K
Census ACS
Household income
$107K
median
Median age
39.8
years
Jobs based here
294
A commuter town
TownGrade
B
#202 of 357 in WI
Is Milton a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Milton grades B overall, 202nd of 357 graded towns in Wisconsin. The median household earns $107K. Its public schools beat 76% of Wisconsin towns on state tests and graduation. The trade-off is money: the typical home is worth about $348K, 4.6 years of the Janesville metro’s $76K median household income. Only 86 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns score lower on hazard risk. The biggest place to walk is Storrs Lake Wildlife Area, 719 acres with 1.6 miles of trail. Only 2 of the 188 Wisconsin towns we compare have a lower property crime rate than Milton.
What makes Milton stand out
Where Milton beats most towns.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Milton4.7
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical WI town3.8
Civic lifeA−
23% more nonprofits per person
than the typical Wisconsin town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
0historic places
History
Settled in 1838
A long history
A history going back 188 years.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Milton for work
Where Milton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
294jobs based in Milton
1%of working residents work in town
14 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Milton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Milton is from typical.
Jobs & incomeA+Open →SchoolsA−Open →Cost of livingC−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 44% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.6 of 20; 0% of households have no car; 1.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →HealthEdgerton Hospital and Health Services 4.4 miles awayBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors6% conserved landB−Open →History5 notable people born hereB−Open →Civic life4.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Milton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Milton, and how to reach them.
PowerWisconsin Power & Light18.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMilton WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet9 providers74% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpJohns DisposalTrash haulerTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Wisconsin you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 20 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTown of Milton ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP codes53563, 53534, 5353853563 62% · 53534 35% · 53538 4%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Milton.
Milton sends most of its workers to Janesville and beyond, owes part of its health edge to its incomes and has colder winter nights than most of the country, though not than most of Wisconsin.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
Most working residents commute out of Milton
Milton has 294 jobs for its 1,317 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. Jobs based here fell from 402 in 2013 to 294.
Most working residents leave Milton for work: only 1% work in town. 2.1% of Milton residents live below the poverty line, below both the Wisconsin town median (6.4%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Jobs based in Milton fell to 294 in 2023, 108 fewer than in 2013.
1%work in town
| Milton | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 2.1% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $107,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.4% | 8.4% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Milton1%
Janesville22%
Madison12%
Milton10%
Edgerton4%
14 mi
median commute distance
294
jobs based in Milton
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 38% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Milton has four seasons and pleasant summers
January nights average 12.2°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 90% of Wisconsin places with climate records; July afternoons average 82.9°.
Milton has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Milton’s January low is 12°F, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 11°F and U.S. towns at 22°F. About 36 inches of snow falls in a winter.
36″snow a winter
| Milton | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 12°F | 11°F | 22°F |
| July high | 83°F | 82°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–31°
Spring36–57°
Summer59–81°
Fall40–60°
Oct 13
typical first frost
Apr 28
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Wisconsin overall
Adults 18 to 34 are 15% of residents (22% statewide). 35% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Wisconsin.
39.8median age · WI 40.2
| Milton | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 35% | 32% | 29% |
| Median age | 39.8 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
MiltonWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
19%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school25%
Some college30%
Associate’s7%
Bachelor’s21%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±6 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Milton | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.2% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.8% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.7% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7.8% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.2% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 8.4% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 18.6% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.3% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.1% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 25.2% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 29.9% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 7% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.3% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13.6% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,100, single groups can be off by several points
OutdoorsB−
Milton has set aside 5.8% of its land for conservation
5.3 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
#235for trails in WI
| Milton | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 5.8% | 3.8% | 4.3% |
5.8%
conserved · 1,157 of 19,988 acres
5.3 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Storrs Lake Wildlife Area | 1.6 mi | 719 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthB
Milton is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns
Against the 7,649 U.S. towns with household incomes like Milton’s, it is less healthy than 66%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
Milton beats the Wisconsin average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 40% of adults have obesity in Milton.
60%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Milton | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 38% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 20% | 16% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 30% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
5 better27 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Milton | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.6% | 12.1% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 8% | 9.7% |
Edgerton Hospital and Health Services
4.4 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
42nd
percentile among WI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Safety
Crime reported in Milton
Milton's reported crime rate is well below Wisconsin's. Milton’s violent crime rate is 0 per 1,000 residents. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Milton0
Wisconsin3
U.S.3.9
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Milton0.3
Wisconsin12.6
U.S.19.5
0
violent crimes reported in 2023
1
property crimes reported in 2023
FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Milton faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 56% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Milton since 2010.
44risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
1
paid flood claims since 2010
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Milton
20pages on Milton
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Milton
About 6 of every 100 Milton residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Wisconsin.
Famous people from Milton
5 notable people were born in Milton.
About Milton
City in Wisconsin, United States
Milton is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,716 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1838
- Area
- 4.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 889 ft
- ZIP code
- 53563
- Area code
- 608
Milton’s neighbors
6 towns share a border with Milton.
Koshkonong next door grades lower for schools (B− to Milton’s A−) and higher for cost of living (B− to C−).
MiltonFultonLimaKoshkonongLake KoshkonongHarmonyMilton
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milton | #202 | B | C− | — | A− | B |
| Milton | #45 | A | B− | A | A− | B |
| Fulton | #209 | B | C | — | B+ | B |
| Lima | — | — | C− | — | B | B |
| Koshkonong | #248 | B− | B− | — | B− | B− |
| Lake Koshkonong | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Harmony | #198 | B | C | — | A− | B− |
Lima has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Milton, Fulton, Lima, Koshkonong and Harmony report no FBI crime data of their own. Lake Koshkonong isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Milton with a neighbor →
Questions about Milton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Milton, WI a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Milton grades B overall, better than 63% of U.S. towns and #202 of 357 in Wisconsin. It grades B for health and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Milton, WI expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.
What is Milton, WI known for?
5 notable people were born here, including Albert Whitford and Leo Crowley.