Jefferson is a city in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It lies at the confluence of the Rock and Crawfish rivers. The population was 7,793 at the 2020 census. The city is partially bordered by the Town of Jefferson.

Official town website ↗

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

How Jefferson ranks

All →

#78Lowest depression in WI #102Most affordable in WI #112Closest to a top hospital in WI All WI rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code53549

Area code920

Living in Jefferson

Housing in Jefferson

$408K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $408,000 in May 2026.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market43

Sale-to-list99.4%

Sold in May7

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Jefferson

C⁺

Safety Grade C+

Jefferson reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 61% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Jefferson 2.3

Wisconsin 2.4

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Jefferson 14.9

Wisconsin 10.3

U.S. 15.5

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

Work & commute in Jefferson

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Jefferson for work: only 16% work in town. The top destinations are Fort Atkinson (11%), Madison (5%) and Johnson Creek (5%). Half commute less than 15 miles.

Fort Atkinson

11%

Madison

Johnson Creek

Watertown

16%Work in townlive and work in Jefferson 15 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 3,817Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Jefferson →

Health in Jefferson

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: Jefferson tracks Wisconsin closely.

Care nearby

Fort Memorial HospitalFort Atkinson · 5.2 mi · ER

Rock River Community Clinic - Johnson CreekJohnson Creek · 5.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

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

Natural hazards in Jefferson

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 70% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

30Does Jefferson flood?paid flood claims since 1979 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Jefferson MapJefferson vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

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

Climate in Jefferson

Full climate →

Jefferson has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 12°, and about 42 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

31° / 15°Winter

57° / 36°Spring

81° / 59°Summer

60° / 40°Fall

How much snow does Jefferson get?About 42 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 18, with the last in spring around Apr 25.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Jefferson

All Jefferson schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Jefferson’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 61% of Wisconsin’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Jefferson’s schools compare in WI →

DistrictJefferson School DistrictSchools6

East Elementary BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 283 students West Elementary B-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 233 students St. Johns Lutheran SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 100 students St. John the Baptist Catholic SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 94 students Jefferson Middle B-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 349 students Jefferson High C-High · Grades 9–12 · 603 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.