Middleton, WI: what USGS's seismic model says

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Middleton in Seismic Design Category B: Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. That puts Middleton in the 18th percentile nationally for seismic hazard - higher than 18% of the 4,875 US cities USGS was checked against here.

Middleton by the numbers

USGS's underlying values for Middleton: 0.035g peak ground acceleration, 0.073g at short period, 0.048g at 1 second. Within Wisconsin alone, Middleton ranks 65 of 157 cities by seismic hazard - the 59th percentile in-state. Middleton has a population of about 22,566.

Bracing and bolting: the actual cost

A full earthquake retrofit typically runs $5,000-$10,000 nationally (around $7,000 typical), driven mainly by house size and foundation type, not by Wisconsin specifically. California's Earthquake Brace + Bolt grant, which covers a large share of this cost, is a California-only program and does not apply in Wisconsin.

Earthquake insurance for a Middleton home

A Middleton homeowner cannot buy a standalone earthquake policy in most cases - it is added to an existing homeowners policy as an endorsement, so the place to start is a regular home-insurance quote.

Where Middleton's figures come from

Middleton's Category B and every number above trace to USGS's own ASCE 7-16 Design Maps service - see the methodology guide. See the category explainer for what Category B does and doesn't tell you about Middleton.