1907 · Pecatonica River · Library of Congress
Darlington’s story
Darlington in pictures
12 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 3 places on the National Register.
DarlingtonWI
A town of 2,409. Home to 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Downspec · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
2,409
+0.4% since 2010
Median home value
$155K
Census ACS
Household income
$57K
median
Median age
31.7
years
Jobs based here
1,045
Balanced
What makes Darlington stand out
The 2 things Darlington does most differently from other towns.
Darlington’s report card
Now in Darlington
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Darlington? Is a B for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Darlington’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Local news
All →- How to watch Lena Winslow (Illinois) vs Darlington (WI) high school footballUSA Today · Aug 28
- Lena-Winslow vs Darlington Football - Aug 28, 2026Sports Illustrated · Jul 6
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Darlington. Another town gets a different order.
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Darlington has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 11°, and about 36 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
36″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–31°
Spring36–58°
Summer59–81°
Fall39–60°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Schools
Darlington’s public schools outperform 64% of Wisconsin districts
The public schools Darlington’s kids attend outperform 64% of Wisconsin’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
BSchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darlington Elementary/Middle | PK–8 | 636 | B+ |
| Holy Rosary School Private | PK–4 | 58 | |
| Darlington High | 9–12 | 263 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state testsAll 3 schools →
Work & commute
About one in five working residents works right in Darlington
Most working residents leave Darlington for work: only 19% work in town. The top destinations are Dodgeville (8%), Madison (6%) and Platteville (6%). Half commute less than 19 miles.
19%work in town
Where working residents work
In Darlington19%
Dodgeville8%
Madison6%
Platteville6%
Monroe4%
19 mi
median commute distance
1,045
jobs based in Darlington
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
Healthier than 38% of U.S. towns
Darlington beats the Wisconsin average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
C+Health Grade
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
0 better30 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Darlington | WI |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 12.3% | 8% |
| More adults facing housing insecurity | 11.8% | 9.7% |
Lafayette Hospital and Clinics
1.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
22nd
percentile among WI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Safety
Crime reported in Darlington
Darlington's reported crime rate is well below Wisconsin's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. Violent crime is rare: 3 reported in 2024.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Darlington1.2
Wisconsin2.9
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Darlington2.8
Wisconsin11.9
U.S.17.7
3
violent crimes reported in 2024
7
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 46% of U.S. communities.
46risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingTornadoes
47
paid flood claims since 1978
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Outdoors
3.3% of Darlington is conserved land
1.0 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves.
3.3%conserved
3.3%
conserved · 35 of 1,076 acres
1.0 mi
of trails · 0.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lafayette County Fairgrounds | 0.3 mi | 10 |
| 2. Riverside Park | — | 16 |
| 3. Veterans Memorial Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Landmarks
3 places in Darlington on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Darlington
9 notable people were born in Darlington.
C
Charlie DoughertyAmerican baseball player · 1862–1925H
Homer Dwight ChapmanAmerican scientist, scholar, and author · 1898–2005
About Darlington
City in Wisconsin, United States
Darlington is a city in and the county seat of Lafayette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,462 at the 2020 census. The city is surrounded by the Town of Darlington.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 2,462
- Area
- 3.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 869 ft
- ZIP code
- 53530
- Area code
- 608
Darlington’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Darlington.
DarlingtonDarlington
More about Darlington
Still missing for Darlington:upcoming events