Some of you might be asking yourself, at this very moment, is Wisconsin a good place?
The answer is unequivocally yes… if you know where to locate the best counties to live in Wisconsin.
Lucky for you, we’re here to help you identify the best counties to live in the Badger State based on the most recently available data from the Census. And this isn’t our first rodeo — we’ve been using Saturday Night Science to rank places for years.
The question becomes if you wanted to relocate to the best part of Wisconsin, where would you go? To answer that, we looked at crime, cost of living, and demographic data for all 72 counties in the state.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 Best Counties To Live In Wisconsin For 2024
Ozaukee County is the county to be when it comes to living the good life in Wisconsin. And you should avoid Forest County if you can — at least according to the data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Wisconsin. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Wisconsin and the cheapest places to live in Wisconsin.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Best Counties To Live In Wisconsin For 2024
1. Ozaukee County
Biggest Place: Mequon
Population: 91,745
Median Income: $92,258 (3rd best)
Median Home Price: $427,342 (2nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6% (17th best)
More on Ozaukee County: Data
2. Waukesha County
Biggest Place: Waukesha
Population: 407,290
Median Income: $101,639 (best)
Median Home Price: $427,935 (best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6% (15th best)
More on Waukesha County: Data
3. St. Croix County
Biggest Place: River Falls
Population: 93,752
Median Income: $97,950 (2nd best)
Median Home Price: $401,573 (4th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2% (5th best)
More on St. Croix County: Data
4. Calumet County
Biggest Place: Appleton
Population: 52,361
Median Income: $84,151 (6th best)
Median Home Price: $328,990 (10th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3% (8th best)
More on Calumet County: Data
5. Washington County
Biggest Place: Milwaukee
Population: 136,842
Median Income: $91,915 (4th best)
Median Home Price: $367,783 (7th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1% (3best)
More on Washington County: Data
6. Iowa County
Biggest Place: Dodgeville
Population: 23,766
Median Income: $79,226 (9th best)
Median Home Price: $279,239 (24th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4% (11th best)
More on Iowa County: Data
7. Kewaunee County
Biggest Place: Algoma
Population: 20,570
Median Income: $77,610 (11th best)
Median Home Price: $266,611 (29th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0% (best)
More on Kewaunee County: Data
8. Pierce County
Biggest Place: River Falls
Population: 42,187
Median Income: $82,996 (7th best)
Median Home Price: $332,509 (9th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9% (24th best)
More on Pierce County: Data
9. Dane County
Biggest Place: Madison
Population: 559,891
Median Income: $84,297 (5th best)
Median Home Price: $401,714 (3rd best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3% (7th best)
More on Dane County: Data
10. Outagamie County
Biggest Place: Appleton
Population: 190,611
Median Income: $78,705 (10th best)
Median Home Price: $291,089 (19th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1% (32nd best)
More on Outagamie County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Wisconsin county is the best?
To give you the best county in Wisconsin, we have to look at a handful of metrics that signal the quality of a place. To do that, we made assumptions about what’s in a “best county” and what isn’t. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to two of the best data sources on the internet. Namely, the American Community Survey data and FBI Crime data for the most recent period.
We paid particular attention to:
- Violent Crime Rates
- Property Crime Rates
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Unemployment Rates
- Adult Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We then ranked each county in Wisconsin across each of the criteria from one to 72, with one being the best.
Taking the average rank across all criteria, we created a quality of life score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Best County To Live In Wisconsin.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and best counties to raise a family in the Badger State.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best counties to live in Wisconsin.
Read on to see why Ozaukee County is the best county, while Forest County is probably in contention for being the worst county in Wisconsin.
Summary: The Best Counties In Wisconsin To Call Home For 2024
Living in Wisconsin can vary from one part of the state to the next — who woulda thought?
The best counties in Wisconsin are Ozaukee County, Waukesha County, St. Croix County, Calumet County, Washington County, Iowa County, Kewaunee County, Pierce County, Dane County, and Outagamie County.
But now you know the outstanding parts and the parts to avoid, and that’s why you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the worst counties in Wisconsin according to the data:
- Forest County
- Adams County
- Clark County
For more Wisconsin reading, check out:
- Safest Places In Wisconsin
- Best Counties To Live In Wisconsin
- Richest Cities In Wisconsin
- Best Places To Buy A House In Wisconsin
Detailed List Of The Best Counties In Wisconsin
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ozaukee County | 91,745 | $92,258 | $427,342 |
| 2 | Waukesha County | 407,290 | $101,639 | $427,935 |
| 3 | St. Croix County | 93,752 | $97,950 | $401,573 |
| 4 | Calumet County | 52,361 | $84,151 | $328,990 |
| 5 | Washington County | 136,842 | $91,915 | $367,783 |
| 6 | Iowa County | 23,766 | $79,226 | $279,239 |
| 7 | Kewaunee County | 20,570 | $77,610 | $266,611 |
| 8 | Pierce County | 42,187 | $82,996 | $332,509 |
| 9 | Dane County | 559,891 | $84,297 | $401,714 |
| 10 | Outagamie County | 190,611 | $78,705 | $291,089 |
| 11 | Columbia County | 58,272 | $79,271 | $307,293 |
| 12 | Jefferson County | 85,932 | $77,018 | $309,567 |
| 13 | Oneida County | 37,799 | $66,111 | $281,029 |
| 14 | Door County | 30,038 | $68,257 | $369,114 |
| 15 | Sheboygan County | 117,741 | $68,969 | $262,551 |
| 16 | Green County | 37,066 | $76,080 | $275,440 |
| 17 | Oconto County | 39,048 | $73,611 | $247,447 |
| 18 | Winnebago County | 171,197 | $70,041 | $258,963 |
| 19 | Walworth County | 105,127 | $75,172 | $351,321 |
| 20 | Fond Du Lac County | 104,027 | $70,368 | $242,766 |
| 21 | La Crosse County | 120,216 | $68,731 | $279,658 |
| 22 | Brown County | 268,393 | $74,066 | $297,999 |
| 23 | Dodge County | 89,032 | $71,747 | $261,750 |
| 24 | Pepin County | 7,363 | $70,833 | $237,793 |
| 25 | Portage County | 70,281 | $71,301 | $264,122 |
| 26 | Manitowoc County | 81,242 | $66,412 | $230,474 |
| 27 | Chippewa County | 66,254 | $69,815 | $280,881 |
| 28 | Marathon County | 137,820 | $73,248 | $225,761 |
| 29 | Eau Claire County | 105,697 | $70,127 | $287,798 |
| 30 | Polk County | 45,128 | $74,142 | $300,639 |
| 31 | Dunn County | 45,221 | $69,721 | $274,104 |
| 32 | Sauk County | 65,664 | $72,930 | $295,076 |
| 33 | Waupaca County | 51,822 | $69,198 | $231,534 |
| 34 | Trempealeau County | 30,679 | $68,474 | $243,671 |
| 35 | Vilas County | 23,146 | $63,726 | $376,042 |
| 36 | Bayfield County | 16,214 | $67,266 | $265,591 |
| 37 | Buffalo County | 13,329 | $64,238 | $213,912 |
| 38 | Rock County | 163,817 | $70,630 | $244,966 |
| 39 | Douglas County | 44,092 | $64,682 | $219,044 |
| 40 | Shawano County | 40,848 | $65,493 | $218,729 |
| 41 | Racine County | 197,068 | $72,658 | $259,033 |
| 42 | Marinette County | 41,827 | $60,347 | $175,836 |
| 43 | Lincoln County | 28,402 | $64,314 | $203,611 |
| 44 | Wood County | 74,138 | $63,273 | $195,857 |
| 45 | Lafayette County | 16,716 | $69,293 | $199,818 |
| 46 | Kenosha County | 168,693 | $76,583 | $275,006 |
| 47 | Marquette County | 15,619 | $59,748 | $235,848 |
| 48 | Iron County | 6,136 | $55,777 | $183,108 |
| 49 | Monroe County | 46,208 | $66,451 | $227,287 |
| 50 | Washburn County | 16,685 | $58,504 | $299,328 |
| 51 | Taylor County | 19,979 | $61,360 | $198,026 |
| 52 | Barron County | 46,683 | $59,379 | $254,812 |
| 53 | Green Lake County | 19,093 | $66,395 | $241,962 |
| 54 | Price County | 14,066 | $55,822 | $181,673 |
| 55 | Vernon County | 30,811 | $65,177 | $221,385 |
| 56 | Richland County | 17,256 | $61,985 | $226,679 |
| 57 | Menominee County | 4,279 | $62,194 | $291,438 |
| 58 | Crawford County | 16,123 | $60,823 | $186,650 |
| 59 | Sawyer County | 18,057 | $57,519 | $322,321 |
| 60 | Grant County | 51,842 | $63,497 | $193,241 |
| 61 | Burnett County | 16,561 | $60,466 | $276,804 |
| 62 | Ashland County | 16,041 | $57,000 | $169,833 |
| 63 | Waushara County | 24,672 | $61,033 | $234,812 |
| 64 | Rusk County | 14,179 | $57,473 | $183,309 |
| 65 | Juneau County | 26,695 | $63,455 | $210,819 |
| 66 | Florence County | 4,574 | $58,049 | $173,588 |
| 67 | Milwaukee County | 933,063 | $59,319 | $247,529 |
| 68 | Jackson County | 20,958 | $64,630 | $189,396 |
| 69 | Langlade County | 19,512 | $55,091 | $181,815 |
| 70 | Clark County | 34,703 | $63,187 | $180,738 |
| 71 | Adams County | 20,730 | $55,223 | $206,554 |
| 72 | Forest County | 9,239 | $55,552 | $194,407 |