Poynette Tower 1, 2010
Poynette’s story
176 years in pictures
Census counts: 300 in 1870, 2,590 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2010 and 3 maps from 1901 on.
- 1850Poynette is settled
Population
2,924
2025 Census estimate · +12.4% since 2020
Typical home
$407K
+4.9% in a year
Household income
$94K
median
Median age
43.0
years
Jobs based here
783
A commuter town
TownGrade
A
#58 of 357 in WI
Is Poynette a good place to live?
Poynette gives you more for your money than most places: homes are within reach, about $407K for a typical one, or 4.6 years of the Madison metro’s $89K median household income. It grades A overall, 58th of 357 graded towns in Wisconsin. The low prices come with trade-offs. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 90% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. On the plus side, the median household earns $94K. 12% of the land in Poynette is conserved, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 3.8% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. Only 40 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns score higher on the outdoors.
What makes Poynette stand out
Where Poynette beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Get outside
1 miles of trails in Poynette
12.2% of the town is conserved land, across 4 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Poynette grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Poynette is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →Jobs & incomeAOpen →SchoolsA−Open →HealthAspirus Divine Savior Hospital 12.3 miles awayB+Open →Cost of livingBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7 of 20; 2% of households have no car; 1.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trailAOpen →History2 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life6.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
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 Poynette: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Poynette, and how to reach them.
PowerWisconsin Power & Light18.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPoynette Waterworks1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers94% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpEvery other weekCurbside recyclingTown 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 hereVillage of Poynette ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2026
ZIP code5395553955 100%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 Poynette.
Poynette pairs an A− for schools with modest home prices and trades lower home prices for longer drives to work, but it carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Wisconsin (mostly inland flooding).
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Poynette stands out in Wisconsin and nationally, with the FEMA risk score higher than most
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 100% of Wisconsin towns; that rating is what its D for hazard risk is built on.
No town among the 362 in Wisconsin we compare has a higher FEMA risk score than Poynette. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Poynette since 1993.
90risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHailCold waves
1
paid flood claims since 1993
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsA−
Poynette’s public schools outperform 83% of Wisconsin districts
Its A− for schools comes with a B for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $407K.
Its public schools are run by the Poynette School District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
83%of WI districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poynette ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 416 | B+ |
| Poynette HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 296 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
#133for trails in WI
12.2%
conserved · 202 of 1,652 acres
1.3 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pauquette Park | 0.8 mi | 19 |
| 2. Valley View Park | 0.3 mi | 12 |
| 3. Veterans Memorial Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
With 0.6 jobs for every working resident, most of Poynette’s workers commute out
Jobs based here grew from 584 in 2013 to 783.
Most working residents leave Poynette for work: only 9% work in town. Poynette’s average trip to work is 28 minutes, above both Wisconsin’s towns (22 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Jobs based in Poynette grew to 783 in 2023, 199 more than in 2013.
9%work in town
| Poynette | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $94,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 6.3% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Poynette9%
Madison30%
DeForest4%
Portage4%
Sun Prairie4%
21 mi
median commute distance
783
jobs based in Poynette
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 45% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
Poynette is healthier than 69% of U.S. towns
Poynette tracks Wisconsin closely on all 32 CDC measures. 21% of Poynette adults binge drink.
69%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Poynette | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 16% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 75% | 78% | 79% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 33% | 35% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 38% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
0 better32 too close to call0 worse
Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital
12.3 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
59th
percentile among WI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In Poynette, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
July afternoons average 82.4°: cooler than most of the country, but hotter than 87% of Wisconsin places with climate records; January nights average 9.9°.
Poynette has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The January low in Poynette is 10°F. About 43 inches of snow falls in a winter.
43″snow a winter
| Poynette | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 10°F | 11°F | 22°F |
| July high | 82°F | 82°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter13–30°
Spring35–57°
Summer58–80°
Fall39–59°
Oct 6
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade B
Poynette’s grade for cost of living is a B
Homes are within reach (about $407K for the typical one, B for cost of living), but half of working residents commute more than 21 miles.
Poynette’s median rent is $821 a month. Typical home values rose 4.9% in the year to September 2026.
$407KZillow home value
| Poynette | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $821 a month | $1,080 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 73% | 74% | 73% |
Typical home value
Poynette$407K
Wisconsin$337K
+4.9%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than Wisconsin overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 44% of residents (38% statewide); people 65 and older are 14% of residents (19% statewide). Poynette has grown 12% since 2020, to 2,924 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 26% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Wisconsin.
43median age · WI 40.2
| Poynette | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 14% | 20% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 26% | 32% | 29% |
| Median age | 43 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
PoynetteWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school29%
Some college26%
Associate’s16%
Bachelor’s18%
Graduate7%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.8 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Poynette | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 7.1% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 14.9% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.2% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.1% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.3% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14.9% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14.5% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 7.2% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.6% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 28.8% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 26.4% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 16.3% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.4% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.4% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,900, single groups can be off by several points
Safety
Property crime in Poynette is lower than in the typical Wisconsin or U.S. town
Only 2 of the 184 Wisconsin towns we compare have a lower property crime rate than Poynette. Poynette's reported crime rate is well below Wisconsin's. 6 violent crimes were reported in 2024.
| Poynette | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 0.4 per 1,000 residents | 8.1 | 11.5 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 2.4 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.7 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Poynette2.4
Wisconsin2.9
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Poynette0.4
Wisconsin11.9
U.S.17.7
6
violent crimes reported in 2024
1
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
Nearby attractions
All 28 attractions →Camp Randall Stadium and 23 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Poynette. Close and well known come first.
22 mi Stadium & arenaCamp Randall Stadium
16 mi Park & preserveIce Age Trail
26 mi Canyon & gorgeDells of the Wisconsin River
16 mi State parkDevil's Lake State Park
22 mi Stadium & arenaKohl Center24 mi Theme parkNoah's Ark Water ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Camp Randall Stadium: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Ice Age Trail: MDuchek, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Dells of the Wisconsin River: atramos, CC BY 2.0 · Devil's Lake State Park: CrispAir at en.wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 · Kohl Center: Pbrown111 at English Wikipedia, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Poynette
20pages on Poynette
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 83% of WI districts · 3 schoolsSafety2.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthB+Better than WI on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB$407K typical home · up 4.9% in a yearWork & commuteA$94K median household income · 783 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 90% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Poynette; the nearest are
Herzing University-MadisonUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Madison18.1 mi$13,450 tuitionUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonUniversity or college · Public · Madison21.9 mi$11,603 in-state tuitionMoraine Park Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Fond du Lac56.4 mi$4,819 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Poynette residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
A commuter town
91% of working residents leave Poynette for work
Where Poynette’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
783jobs based in Poynette
9%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Poynette
Village in Wisconsin, United States
Poynette is a village in Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,590 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Madison, Wisconsin metropolitan area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 840 ft
- ZIP code
- 53955
Poynette’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Poynette.
DekorraArlingtonPoynette
How the neighbors grade
Dekorra has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Poynette and Dekorra report no FBI crime data of their own. Arlington isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Poynette with a neighbor →
Questions about Poynette
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Poynette, WI a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Poynette grades A overall, better than 89% of U.S. towns and #58 of 357 in Wisconsin. It grades B+ for health and A− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Poynette, WI expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.
What is Poynette, WI known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Lisa Schoeneberg and Mark Shumate.