Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Waupun’s subject grades is an A for incomes; the weakest is a C− for walkability. 98% of households are owner-occupiers in Waupun, above both the Wisconsin town median (74%) and the median of U.S. towns (73%). Only 13 of Wisconsin’s 869 towns score lower on civic life. The biggest park or preserve is Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, at 256 acres. Waupun has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Waupun is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Where Waupun beats most towns.
Census counts: 1,736 in 1860, 11,344 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1851 and 3 maps from 1955 on.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Ordered by what stands out in Waupun.
For working residents in Waupun, the share who work locally is 1.8%. The top destinations are Waupun (21%), Fond du Lac (14%) and Beaver Dam (6%). The town’s median household income works out to $113,000. Half commute less than 16 miles.
| Waupun | Typical Wisconsin town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $113,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 2.5% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.8% | 8.3% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its midsummer high is put at 81°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected losses in Waupun break down as 49% from inland flooding and 19% from cold waves. Storm and flood damage is expected to run lower than in 67% of U.S. communities. Also worth knowing: since 2008, Waupun has seen 11 flood insurance claims paid out.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
In Waupun, one in ten adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance. Of 32 CDC measures, Waupun beats the Wisconsin average on 1 and trails it on 13. 20% of adults in Waupun binge drink; 17% smoke cigarettes.
| Waupun | Typical Wisconsin town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 38% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 26% | 25% |
| What stands out | Waupun | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.5% | 8.6% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 7% | 5.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The density of trails here in Waupun is 0.1 miles per square mile. Across 4 parks and preserves run 4.0 miles of trail. The parks and preserves spread over 358 acres of the town.
| Waupun | Typical Wisconsin town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 9% | 3.8% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Marsh Haven Nature Center | 1.4 mi | 52 |
| 2. Horicon National Wildlife Refuge | — | 256 |
| 3. Waupun Park Maple Forest State Natural Area | — | 47 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Who provides power, water and the rest in Waupun, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Where Waupun’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
1 within 15 miles of the center of Waupun
About 4 of every 100 Waupun residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
11 notable people were born in Waupun.
City in Wisconsin, United States
Waupun is a city in Dodge and Fond du Lac counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 11,344 at the 2020 census. Of this, 7,795 were in Dodge County, and 3,549 were in Fond du Lac County. In Fond du Lac County, the Town of Waupun abuts the city of Waupun.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.
11 notable people were born here, including Emory Richard Johnson and Oliver Smith.
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