If you’re considering retirement and want to live in Wisconsin, don’t waste another minute.
With ice fishing just off of La Crosse’s Goose Island and the Green Bay Packers in your backyard, your can spend your retirement years in Wisconsin. Make sure the city you choose is on our list of the best places to retire in Wisconsin for 2024.
You’ll be happy that you did.
How did we determine the best places to retire in the Badger State? To identify Wisconsin’s top ten, we consulted the numbers for factors like cost of living, crime, amenities, rent and distance to closest national airport. We analyzed 80 cities with over 10,000 residents.
Most of Wisconsin’s biggest cities like Milwaukee and Kenosha are the nexus for retirement. Many of the state’s retirees want to live in urban areas where they don’t have to drive or mow a lawn.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Wisconsin For 2024
Where is the best place to retire in Wisconsin? According to the latest data, Two Rivers is the best place to retire in Wisconsin for 2024.
Grab a bratwurst and some booyah stew as you learn more about the top ten on our list.
Why did Two Rivers take the top spot? And where are Milwaukee and Madison?
For more Wisconsin state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Wisconsin
- Cheapest Places To Live In Wisconsin
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Wisconsin
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Wisconsin For 2024
/10
Population: 11,252
Median Income: $56,236
Median Home Price: $256,600
Median Rent: $744
Distance to Closest Airport: 35 miles
More on Two Rivers: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,213
Median Income: $79,610
Median Home Price: $475,448
Median Rent: $1,018
Distance to Closest Airport: 24 miles
More on Cedarburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 34,500
Median Income: $60,040
Median Home Price: $199,459
Median Rent: $743
Distance to Closest Airport: 34 miles
More on Manitowoc: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 18,087
Median Income: $66,592
Median Home Price: $248,599
Median Rent: $949
Distance to Closest Airport: 1 miles
More on Cudahy: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,253
Median Income: $72,958
Median Home Price: $310,154
Median Rent: $951
Distance to Closest Airport: 37 miles
More on Elkhorn: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,000
Median Income: $80,529
Median Home Price: $305,324
Median Rent: $939
Distance to Closest Airport: 26 miles
More on Burlington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,109
Median Income: $66,033
Median Home Price: $216,145
Median Rent: $797
Distance to Closest Airport: 63 miles
More on Waupun: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 25,277
Median Income: $90,346
Median Home Price: $327,335
Median Rent: $982
Distance to Closest Airport: 10 miles
More on Caledonia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,065
Median Income: $54,969
Median Home Price: $166,215
Median Rent: $751
Distance to Closest Airport: 48 miles
More on Marinette: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 26,562
Median Income: $54,935
Median Home Price: $198,624
Median Rent: $817
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Superior: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Badger State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Wisconsin to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Badger State — 773 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 80 places from across the state.
For these 80, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 80, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Two Rivers, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Wisconsin.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Wisconsin Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Wisconsin goes to Two Rivers.
The best places to retire in Wisconsin are Two Rivers, Cedarburg, Manitowoc, Cudahy, Elkhorn, Burlington, Waupun, Caledonia, Marinette, and Superior.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Madison
- Fitchburg
- Onalaska
For more Wisconsin reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Wisconsin
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Two Rivers | 11,252 | $56,236 | $256,600 | $744 |
| 2 | Cedarburg | 12,213 | $79,610 | $475,448 | $1,018 |
| 3 | Manitowoc | 34,500 | $60,040 | $199,459 | $743 |
| 4 | Cudahy | 18,087 | $66,592 | $248,599 | $949 |
| 5 | Elkhorn | 10,253 | $72,958 | $310,154 | $951 |
| 6 | Burlington | 11,000 | $80,529 | $305,324 | $939 |
| 7 | Waupun | 11,109 | $66,033 | $216,145 | $797 |
| 8 | Caledonia | 25,277 | $90,346 | $327,335 | $982 |
| 9 | Marinette | 11,065 | $54,969 | $166,215 | $751 |
| 10 | Superior | 26,562 | $54,935 | $198,624 | $817 |