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City · 12,463 residents · Jefferson County, Wisconsin

Fort Atkinson , Wisconsin

In Fort Atkinson, a typical home is worth $211,800 and typical rent is $961 a month. Compared with all of Jefferson County, the typical home value is 23% lower and typical rent is 7% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $211,800

    23% below the county

    21% below Wisconsin

    • Fort Atkinson
    • Jefferson
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical rent

    $961a month

    7% below the county

    12% below Wisconsin

    • Fort Atkinson
    • Jefferson
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical household income

    $79,302a year

    5% below the county

    2% above Wisconsin

    • Fort Atkinson
    • Jefferson
    • Wisconsin

  • Households that own their home

    68%

    5 points below the county

    1 points above Wisconsin

    • Fort Atkinson
    • Jefferson
    • Wisconsin

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$309,252
4.2% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Fort Atkinson is in Jefferson County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Jefferson County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Fort Atkinson apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. The typical home in Fort Atkinson is worth $211,800, 23% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($274,100).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Fort Atkinson

What homes there are in Fort Atkinson, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Fort Atkinson, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Jefferson County, 7.

Year built

In Fort Atkinson, half of the homes were built before 1964; in Jefferson County, before 1973.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,593 a month

Jefferson County: $1,730 a month

Without a mortgage

$631 a month

Jefferson County: $691 a month

Owners with a mortgage

64%

Jefferson County: 62%

In Fort Atkinson, 64% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,593 a month, against $1,730 in Jefferson County. Without one it drops to $631.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Fort Atkinson gained value more slowly than in Jefferson County: 35% since 2015–2019, against 44%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Fort Atkinson rose 15%, less than in Jefferson County (21%).

Income in Fort Atkinson grew faster than housing: it rose 43%, while home values changed +35% and rent +15%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureFort AtkinsonJefferson CountyWisconsinUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.5%4.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.5%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.3%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.262.372.332.53
Drive alone 80%77%74%69%
Carpool 7%8%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home 10%11%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Jefferson County, a household in Fort Atkinson has 2.26 people on average.

To get to work, 80% of workers in Fort Atkinson drive alone; in Jefferson County, 77%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Fort Atkinson?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Fort Atkinson, worth $211,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 29% of the typical household income in Fort Atkinson, which is $79,302 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $81,185 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Jefferson County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Fort Atkinson. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $7,413 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,894

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$207,964
Total interest
$299,211
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,577 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,850 a month

  • Tight

    $1,850 to $2,379 a month

    Your payment · 29%

  • Hard

    more than $2,379 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Fort Atkinson ($79,302 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,894
Principal & interest$1,409
Property tax$304
Home insurance$88
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$94

You need at least $7,413 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Fort Atkinson and Jefferson County

Fort Atkinson is in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Fort Atkinson's own numbers

Typical home value
$211,800
Typical monthly rent
$961
Typical yearly household income
$79,302
Households that own their home
68%
Effective property tax rate
1.72%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Jefferson County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,209
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+56%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Jefferson County.

Everything about Jefferson County

Buying

Buying a home in Fort Atkinson

A typical home in Fort Atkinson is worth $211,800: 23% below the county and 21% below Wisconsin. With the typical household income in Fort Atkinson ($79,302 a year), a typical home costs 2.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Fort Atkinson 2.7 years
  • Jefferson 3.3 years
  • Wisconsin 3.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Jefferson County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Jefferson County rose 93% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Jefferson County.

Period County Wisconsin U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.3% +5.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +56% +57% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +93% +96% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Fort Atkinson next to Jefferson County, Wisconsin and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Fort Atkinson $211,800
  • Jefferson $274,100
  • Wisconsin $266,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Fort Atkinson $961
  • Jefferson $1,035
  • Wisconsin $1,087
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Fort Atkinson $79,302
  • Jefferson $83,750
  • Wisconsin $77,485
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Fort Atkinson next to Jefferson County and Wisconsin
Measure Fort Atkinson Jefferson County Wisconsin U.S.
Typical home value $211,800 $274,100 $266,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $961 $1,035 $1,087 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $79,302 $83,750 $77,485 $80,734
Households that own their home 68% 73% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,637 $4,005 $3,792 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.72% 1.46% 1.42% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 42% 39% 44% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Jefferson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Fort Atkinson

For a typical $211,800 home in Fort Atkinson, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Fort Atkinson's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,894a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,413
    Cash to close
    $13,767
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $94

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,856a month

    Down payment
    $10,590
    Cash to close
    $16,944
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $101

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,540a month

    Down payment
    $42,360
    Cash to close
    $48,714
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,735a month

    Down payment
    $31,770
    Cash to close
    $38,124
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Fort Atkinson and for Jefferson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Fort Atkinson

1.72%of the home’s value each year

$3,637 a year for the typical owner in Fort Atkinson.

  • Fort Atkinson 1.72%
  • Jefferson 1.46%
  • Wisconsin 1.42%

What Wisconsin publishes Lottery and Gaming Credit for your primary residence (Wisconsin Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Wisconsin

Flood risk in Jefferson County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Jefferson County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.4%
729
Of those, with NFIP insurance
17%
County Wisconsin U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.4% 1.4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 17% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Fort Atkinson

Typical rent in Fort Atkinson is $961 a month: 7% below the county. In Fort Atkinson, 42% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Jefferson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,209 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.25 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Jefferson County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $842 $16.19 $33,680
1 bedroom $958 $18.42 $38,320
2 bedrooms $1,209 $23.25 $48,360
3 bedrooms $1,635 $31.44 $65,400
4 bedrooms $1,652 $31.77 $66,080

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Fort Atkinson

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Fort Atkinson is in ZIP code 53538.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,180: $29 less than the fair market rent for Jefferson County ($1,209).

  • 53538 $1,180$1,600

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Fort Atkinson when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Fort Atkinson

HUD lists 5 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Fort Atkinson. These are the largest.

  • Parkview Apts and Rockland Court 1028 East St, Fort Atkinson 53538 83 homes, 82 low-income · For older adults (414) 228-1122
  • Riverview Romeis LLC 217 S Water St E, Fort Atkinson 53538 184 homes, 76 low-income · 1 bd: 169 · 2 bd: 1 · 3 bd: 14 · In service since 2007 · For older adults (920) 568-8862
  • Rockwell Court Apts 52 Spry Ave, Fort Atkinson 53538 64 homes, 54 low-income · For families (920) 691-0163
  • Blackhawk Ridge Senior Apts 252 W Blackhawk Dr, Fort Atkinson 53538 36 homes, 33 low-income · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 24 · In service since 1999
  • North Pointe Apts 320 W Blackhawk Dr, Fort Atkinson 53538 24 low-income homes · 1 bd: 4 · 2 bd: 12 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 1998

See all 25 buildings in Jefferson County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Fort Atkinson

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Jefferson County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Fort Atkinson

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Fort Atkinson or Jefferson County. The ones below are statewide in Wisconsin: they work in Fort Atkinson the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Wisconsin

  • WHEDA Easy Close Advantage DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Wisconsin state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to 6% of the price, over 10 years with a monthly payment and the same rate as the WHEDA first mortgage. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • WHEDA Capital Access DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    $7,500 loan from the Wisconsin state agency for the down payment and closing costs, over 30 years, at 0% and with no monthly payments, alongside a WHEDA mortgage; limited funds, first come, first served. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Fort Atkinson

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Fort Atkinson, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Jefferson County at Home

    874 Collins Rd, Jefferson · 6 miles away

    • Home improvement and repairs
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 2 more
    (920) 674-7500

  • Movin' Out, Inc.

    902 Royster Oaks Dr, Madison · 26 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Hmong.

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (608) 518-4446

  • Foundation for Rural Housing Inc

    156 N Main St, Oregon · 27 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 1 more
    (608) 238-3448

Every agency in Jefferson County All counseling agencies in Wisconsin

Help in Spanish near Fort Atkinson

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Fort Atkinson

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Jefferson County is named for Fort Atkinson or Jefferson County.

3 other authorities have an office in Jefferson County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Jefferson County

These cities are also in Jefferson County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Jefferson County Housing in Wisconsin

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Fort Atkinson, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Jefferson County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Fort Atkinson.

All guides
Three generations of a family gather on the porch of their home.

Questions

Housing questions about Fort Atkinson

Short answers with the numbers for Fort Atkinson and all of Jefferson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Fort Atkinson?

The typical home value in Fort Atkinson is $211,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Jefferson County it is $274,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Fort Atkinson?

Typical rent in Fort Atkinson is $961 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Jefferson County is $1,209.

What is the FHA loan limit in Fort Atkinson?

Fort Atkinson uses the FHA limit for all of Jefferson County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Fort Atkinson?

The typical homeowner in Fort Atkinson pays $3,637 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.72% of the home’s value; in Jefferson County, the rate is 1.46%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Fort Atkinson?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Jefferson County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).