Baraboo ( BAIR-ə-boo) is the county seat of Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States, located along the Baraboo River. The population was 12,556 at the 2020 census. The most populous city in the county, Baraboo is the principal city of the Baraboo micropolitan statistical area, which comprises a portion of the Madison combined statistical area. Baraboo is home to the Circus World Museum and the former headquarters and winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Al. Ringling Theatre is an active landmark in the city. Baraboo is near Devil's Lake State Park and Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm. The Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin has an active cultural and community presence in the Baraboo area.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Baraboo ranks

All →

#21Closest to a top hospital in WI #46Most new homes in WI #65Most walkable in WI All WI rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code53913

Area code608

Living in Baraboo

Housing in Baraboo

$245K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $245,000 in May 2026.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market45

Sale-to-list100.2%

Sold in May17

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Baraboo

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Baraboo's police department reported only 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Baraboo 1

Wisconsin 2.4

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Baraboo 7.6

Wisconsin 10.3

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Baraboo

Full picture →

About one in 4 of Baraboo’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Madison (12%), Lake Delton (7%) and West Baraboo (3%). Half commute less than 14 miles.

Madison

12%

Lake Delton

West Baraboo

Reedsburg

25%Work in townlive and work in Baraboo 14 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 6,900Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Baraboo →

Health in Baraboo

B⁻

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 50% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Wisconsin

≈Just like Wisconsin

No difference on any of 32 measures is outside the margin of error.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Nothing stands out: Baraboo tracks Wisconsin closely.

Care nearby

Ssm Health St. Clare Hospital - BarabooBaraboo · 0.9 mi · ER

Scenic Bluffs Health Center- ReedsburgReedsburg · 14 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Baraboo · CMS · HRSAHealth in Baraboo →

Natural hazards in Baraboo

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 27% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

6Does Baraboo flood?paid flood claims since 1993 6Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Baraboo MapBaraboo vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Baraboo →

Climate in Baraboo

Full climate →

Baraboo has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 10°, and about 43 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

30° / 13°Winter

57° / 35°Spring

81° / 58°Summer

59° / 38°Fall

How much snow does Baraboo get?About 43 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 5, with the last in spring around May 5.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.7° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Baraboo →

Schools in Baraboo

All Baraboo schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Baraboo’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 57% of Wisconsin’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Baraboo’s schools compare in WI →

DistrictBaraboo School DistrictSchools9

East Elementary A-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 334 students Al Behrman Elementary B-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 278 students West Elementary-Kindergarten CenterElementary · Grades PK–K · 35 students St. Joseph Parish SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 223 students St. John's Lutheran SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 106 students Jack Young Middle CMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 548 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within WI. Ratings are from neighbors.