Norwegian Buildings at Heg Park · National Register of Historic Places
Norway’s story
179 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 maps from 1891 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1847Norway is settled
NorwayWI
Public schools that outperform most of Wisconsin.
7 bordering townsMap →
Norwegian Buildings at Heg Park · Photo: William Garrett · CC BY 2.0
Population
7,856
2025 Census estimate · −0.7% since 2020
Typical home
$555K
+5.9% in a year
Household income
$103K
median
Median age
49.0
years
Jobs based here
1,000
A commuter town
TownGrade
B
#207 of 357 in WI
Is Norway a good place to live?
Norway grades B overall, 207th among Wisconsin's 357 graded towns, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. The median household earns $103K and its schools rank ahead of 79% of Wisconsin towns. It also does better than most on health: it is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns. Its lowest everyday mark is in cost of living: the typical home is worth about $555K, 7.1 years of the Racine metro’s $78K median household income. Norway’s average trip to work is 31 minutes, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 22 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Norwegian Buildings at Heg Park is on the National Register of Historic Places. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 71% of U.S. towns.
What makes Norway stand out
Where Norway beats most towns.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave Norway for work
Where Norway’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,000jobs based in Norway
4%of working residents work in town
16 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Norway grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Norway is from typical.
Jobs & income1,000 jobs based hereAOpen →SchoolsA−Open →Cost of livingCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.6 of 20; 4% of households have no car; 1.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →HealthFroedtert Community Hospital 11.2 miles awayBOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 47% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors6 miles of trails; 2% conserved landCOpen →History1 place on the National Register; 2 notable people born hereA−Open →Civic life3.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateSnowy winters, 82° summer afternoons, 41″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives here28% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 56 attractions →Six Flags Great America and 32 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Norway. Close and well known come first.
Big draw31 mi Theme parkSix Flags Great America3.0M visitors a year
20 mi Stadium & arenaFiserv Forum
20 mi MuseumMilwaukee Art Museum350K visitors a year
20 mi Stadium & arenaUW–Milwaukee Panther Arena
16 mi TheatreAlpine Valley Music Theatre
19 mi MuseumHarley-Davidson Museum300K visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Six Flags Great America: Feather Better, CC BY 4.0 · Fiserv Forum: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Milwaukee Art Museum: Michael Hicks (Mulad), CC BY 2.0 · UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena: Shadowlink1014, Public domain · Alpine Valley Music Theatre: chad davis, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Harley-Davidson Museum: Dori, CC BY-SA 3.0 us
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Norway: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Norway, and how to reach them.
PowerWe Energies20.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet6 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Norway’s trash rules yet
SchoolsWaterford Union High School DistrictNorth Cape School District2 districts serve Norway; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
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 Norway ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP codes53185, 53182, 53150, 5312653185 82% · 53182 8% · 53150 5% · 53126 5%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 Norway.
Norway sends most of its workers to Milwaukee and beyond and gets more snow than most of the country, though not than most of Wisconsin; it also has homes that cost more against local pay than most of Wisconsin.
HousingCost of living grade C
For cost of living, Norway earns a C
At 7.1 years of the Racine metro’s $78K median household income, the typical home (about $555K) costs more against local pay than in 94% of Wisconsin towns; that ratio is one input to its C for cost of living.
29% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent in Norway. Typical home values rose 5.9% in the year to September 2026. 81% of households own their home in Norway.
$555KZillow home value
| Norway | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 29% | 39% | 48% |
| Households that own their home | 81% | 74% | 73% |
Typical home value
Norway$555K
Wisconsin$337K
+5.9%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsA−
For schools, Norway earns an A−
Its public schools are run by the Muskego-Norway School District. Its two schools are below.
79%of WI districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeview ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–4 | Grades K–4 | 290 | A+ |
| Drought ElementaryTop results in townGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 109 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Most working residents commute out of Norway
Norway has 1,000 jobs for its 4,145 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. The average commute takes 31.1 minutes, against 22.2 across Wisconsin.
Most working residents leave Norway for work: only 4% work in town. Jobs based in Norway grew to 1,000 in 2023, 279 more than in 2013. 5.4% of Norway residents live below the poverty line.
4%work in town
| Norway | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $103,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.4% | 8.4% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Norway4%
Milwaukee16%
Muskego7%
New Berlin4%
West Allis3%
16 mi
median commute distance
1,000
jobs based in Norway
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 29% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than Wisconsin overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 50% of residents (38% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 12% of residents (22% statewide). Norway’s median age is 49 years. 29% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Wisconsin.
49median age · WI 40.2
| Norway | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 20% | 21% | 22% |
NorwayWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
23%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school30%
Some college24%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s18%
Graduate10%
Women and men · all residents
46% women, 54% men
About 120 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.7 points). Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Norway | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.2% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.5% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.7% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 5.8% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.2% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.5% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 23.3% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.8% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.5% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 30% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 23.7% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.3% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.1% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10.4% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Norway
The Union Grove weather station, 9 miles away, records that 41 inches of snow fall in a normal winter: more than most of the country, but less than 76% of Wisconsin places with climate records. The Union Grove weather station, 9 miles away, records that about 9 days a year reach 90°: fewer than most of the country, but more than 77% of Wisconsin places with climate records.
Norway has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 82° and January nights drop to 14°.
41″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–32°
Spring36–56°
Summer59–80°
Fall41–60°
Oct 10
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
OutdoorsC
Norway has set aside 2.2% of its land for conservation
6.1 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Richard J Meyer Park, at 34 acres.
#235for trails in WI
| Norway | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.2% | 3.8% | 4.3% |
2.2%
conserved · 502 of 22,689 acres
6.1 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Richard J Meyer Park | 0.6 mi | 34 |
| 2. Col. Heg Memorial Park | — | 19 |
| 3. Wind Lake Veterans Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthB
For health, Norway earns a B
Against the 8,086 U.S. towns with household incomes like Norway’s, it is less healthy than 61%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
Norway beats the Wisconsin average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
61%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Norway | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 38% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 20% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
8 better23 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Norway | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.5% | 8% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.9% | 9.7% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.5% | 8.6% |
Froedtert Community Hospital
11.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
44th
percentile among WI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Moderate risk in Norway, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 53% of U.S. communities. Since 1999, 20 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Norway.
47risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
20
paid flood claims since 1999
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Norway
19pages on Norway
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Norway
About 4 of every 100 Norway residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
About Norway
Town in Wisconsin, United States
The Town of Norway is located in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,916 at the 2020 census. The census-designated place of Wind Lake is in the town. The unincorporated communities of North Cape and Union Church are also located partially in the town.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 36 sq mi
- Elevation
- 771 ft
Norway’s neighbors
7 towns share a border with Norway.
All 4 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its B; Raymond (B+) is closest.
TichiganWaterfordDoverWind LakeMuskegoRaymondRochesterNorway
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | #207 | B | C | — | A− | B |
| Tichigan | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Waterford | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dover | #143 | A− | C+ | — | B | B |
| Wind Lake | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Muskego | #43 | A | C− | B+ | A+ | A |
| Raymond | #188 | B+ | C− | — | A− | B |
| Rochester | #121 | A− | B− | — | B+ | B+ |
Norway, Dover, Raymond and Rochester report no FBI crime data of their own. Tichigan, Waterford and Wind Lake aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Norway with a neighbor →
Questions about Norway
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Norway, WI a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Norway grades B overall, better than 63% of U.S. towns and #207 of 357 in Wisconsin. It grades B for health and A− for schools.
What is Norway, WI known for?
2 notable people were born here, including John Edmund Fries and Henry F. Johnson.