Fond du Lac County
WI · Pop. 104,053 · Mixed County
Fond du Lac County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Wisconsin, spanning 720 square miles with 104,053 residents at a density of 144.5 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on corn, haylage, soybeans. The median home price is $210,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.58%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 165-day growing season, average summer highs of 80°F and average winter lows of 14.1°F. Annual rainfall averages 30.1 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. St Agnes Hospital is 3.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- St Agnes Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 3.5 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on corn, haylage, soybeans means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
- A low unemployment rate of 3% reflects a stable local job base.
- A low poverty rate of 8.7% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.58% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
- Average winter lows of 14.1°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
At a glance
Fond du Lac County, WI is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 41/100
- Median home price
- $210k
- Property tax
- 1.58%
- Growing season
- 165 days (zone 5b)
- Annual rainfall
- 30.1"
- Broadband
- 99.4%
- Nearest hospital
- St Agnes Hospital, 3.5 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Fond du Lac County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Fond du Lac County?
- Fond du Lac County is in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 165-day growing season, average summer highs of 80°F, and average winter lows of 14.1°F. The established crops are corn, haylage, soybeans.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $210,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.58%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 99.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- St Agnes Hospital is 3.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 3 hospitals in the county.
Explore Wisconsin Resources
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LandWatch
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More counties in Wisconsin
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The closest counties to Fond du Lac County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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