Best places to live in Wisconsin
An ideal town or neighborhood looks different for everyone.
Those who can't get enough of the outdoors may prioritize proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches, while parents are looking for places with top-ranked schools for their children. Culture lovers might want to live in a city with museums and art walks, whereas sports fans look for professional or college sports teams nearby.
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Wisconsin using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums.
Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
CORRECTION: A previously published version of this piece, in some cases, incorrectly listed private schools as public schools.
#27. Bayside, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 509
- Population: 4,506
- Median household income: $129,348
- Median home value: $407,100 (79% own)
- Median rent: $1,433 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Lake Shore Middle School (grade A+), Donges Bay Elementary School (grade A+), Homestead High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)
#26. Brookfield, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 167
- Population: 41,342
- Median household income: $121,837
- Median home value: $388,600 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,699 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Brookfield East High School (grade A+), Wisconsin Hills Middle School (grade A+), Brookfield Central High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)
#25. Cedarburg, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 1,459
- Population: 12,213
- Median household income: $79,610
- Median home value: $372,500 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,018 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Parkview Elementary School (grade A+), Westlawn Elementary School (grade A+), Cedarburg High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+), Dominican High School (grade A)
#24. Elm Grove, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 133
- Population: 6,445
- Median household income: $126,996
- Median home value: $433,300 (89% own)
- Median rent: $1,424 (11% rent)
- Top public schools: Brookfield East High School (grade A+), Wisconsin Hills Middle School (grade A+), Brookfield Central High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+)
#23. Fitchburg, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 1,998
- Population: 29,826
- Median household income: $87,253
- Median home value: $377,600 (48% own)
- Median rent: $1,284 (52% rent)
- Top public schools: Pope Farm Elementary School (grade A+), West High School (grade A), Verona Area International School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart (grade A+), Abundant Life Christian School (grade A minus), St. Ambrose Academy (grade B+)
#22. Fox Point, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 515
- Population: 6,811
- Median household income: $130,865
- Median home value: $382,500 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,622 (20% rent)
- Top public schools: Maple Dale Elementary School (grade A+), Nicolet Union High School (grade A), Bayside Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)
#21. Glendale, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 929
- Population: 13,227
- Median household income: $79,861
- Median home value: $248,000 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,217 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Maple Dale Elementary School (grade A+), Indian Hill Elementary School (grade A+), Nicolet Union High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)
#20. Greendale, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 1,844
- Population: 14,722
- Median household income: $89,684
- Median home value: $273,400 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,152 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: College Park Elementary School (grade A), Greendale High School (grade A), Downtown Montessori Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+), Divine Savior Holy Angels High School (grade A)
#19. Lannon, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 2,308
- Population: 1,351
- Median household income: $75,675
- Median home value: $213,300 (85% own)
- Median rent: $576 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: Silver Spring Intermediate School (grade A), Templeton Middle School (grade A), Hamilton High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), Divine Savior Holy Angels High School (grade A), Wisconsin Lutheran High School (grade A)
#18. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 1,955
- Population: 38,610
- Median household income: $96,986
- Median home value: $312,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,217 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Marcy Elementary School (grade A), Silver Spring Intermediate School (grade A), Templeton Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)
#17. Mequon, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 307
- Population: 25,102
- Median household income: $141,996
- Median home value: $463,800 (84% own)
- Median rent: $2,254 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Lake Shore Middle School (grade A+), Donges Bay Elementary School (grade A+), Steffen Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+)
#16. Middleton, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 556
- Population: 21,864
- Median household income: $87,333
- Median home value: $438,700 (48% own)
- Median rent: $1,326 (52% rent)
- Top public schools: Pope Farm Elementary School (grade A+), Middleton High School (grade A+), Memorial High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Madison Country Day School (grade A+), Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart (grade A+), St. Ambrose Academy (grade B+)
#15. Nashotah, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 1,006
- Population: 1,216
- Median household income: $131,250
- Median home value: $405,700 (96% own)
- Median rent: $1,146 (4% rent)
- Top public schools: Lake Country School District (grade A+), High School of Health Sciences (grade A+), Arrowhead High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)
#14. Pewaukee City, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 2,239
- Population: 15,817
- Median household income: $110,110
- Median home value: $393,100 (85% own)
- Median rent: $1,490 (15% rent)
- Top public schools: Wisconsin Hills Middle School (grade A+), High School of Health Sciences (grade A+), Pewaukee High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)
#13. River Hills, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 565
- Population: 1,530
- Median household income: $200,625
- Median home value: $677,300 (94% own)
- Median rent: $2,250 (6% rent)
- Top public schools: Maple Dale Elementary School (grade A+), Indian Hill Elementary School (grade A+), Nicolet Union High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)
#12. Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 918
- Population: 2,085
- Median household income: $116,250
- Median home value: $875,000 (52% own)
- Median rent: $1,870 (48% rent)
- Top public schools: Pope Farm Elementary School (grade A+), Memorial High School (grade A), West High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Madison Country Day School (grade A+), Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart (grade A+), St. Ambrose Academy (grade B+)
#11. Shorewood, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 310
- Population: 13,707
- Median household income: $87,161
- Median home value: $391,200 (48% own)
- Median rent: $1,214 (52% rent)
- Top public schools: Shorewood High School (grade A+), Lake Bluff Elementary School (grade A), Atwater Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)
#10. Sussex, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 2,051
- Population: 11,549
- Median household income: $105,435
- Median home value: $360,100 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,222 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Marcy Elementary School (grade A), Arrowhead High School (grade A), Silver Spring Intermediate School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)
#9. Thiensville, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 602
- Population: 3,279
- Median household income: $85,542
- Median home value: $321,400 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,179 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Lake Shore Middle School (grade A+), Steffen Middle School (grade A+), Homestead High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+), Dominican High School (grade A)
#8. Verona, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 1,751
- Population: 14,040
- Median household income: $109,960
- Median home value: $353,000 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,407 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Pope Farm Elementary School (grade A+), Verona Area International School (grade A), Verona Area High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart (grade A+), St. Ambrose Academy (grade B+), St. Maria Goretti Catholic School (grade A)
#7. Waunakee, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 1,712
- Population: 14,794
- Median household income: $132,305
- Median home value: $442,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,179 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Pope Farm Elementary School (grade A+), Waunakee Intermediate School (grade A), Waunakee Community Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Madison Country Day School (grade A+), Abundant Life Christian School (grade A minus), St. Ambrose Academy (grade B+)
#6. Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 747
- Population: 47,919
- Median household income: $93,812
- Median home value: $291,600 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,312 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Silver Spring Intermediate School (grade A), East High School (grade A), Roosevelt Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+)
#5. Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 297
- Population: 14,804
- Median household income: $142,356
- Median home value: $466,900 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,262 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Whitefish Bay High School (grade A+), Whitefish Bay Middle School (grade A+), Richards Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)
#4. Wind Point, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 1,349
- Population: 1,688
- Median household income: $143,000
- Median home value: $272,800 (98% own)
- Median rent: $2,156 (2% rent)
- Top public schools: Walden III High School (grade B+), The Real School (grade B), Jefferson Lighthouse Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: The Prairie School (grade A+), Racine Lutheran High School (grade A minus), St. Catherine's High School (grade B)
#3. Juneau Town, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 2,206
- Population: 5,288
- Median household income: $65,672
- Median home value: $258,645 (28% own)
- Median rent: $1,266 (72% rent)
- Top public schools: Downtown Montessori Academy (grade A), Forest Ridge Elementary School (grade B+), Woodlands School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)
#2. Madison, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 1,618
- Population: 268,516
- Median household income: $74,895
- Median home value: $326,600 (47% own)
- Median rent: $1,291 (53% rent)
- Top public schools: Pope Farm Elementary School (grade A+), Middleton High School (grade A+), Memorial High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Madison Country Day School (grade A+), Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart (grade A+), Abundant Life Christian School (grade A minus)
#1. Kohler, Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 63
- Population: 2,142
- Median household income: $128,036
- Median home value: $337,200 (93% own)
- Median rent: $1,354 (7% rent)
- Top public schools: Kohler Elementary School (grade A), Kohler Middle School (grade A), Kohler High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Sheboygan Christian School (grade B+), Sheboygan Lutheran High School (grade B), St. John Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 42 states.
