Best counties to retire to in Wisconsin
Best counties to retire to in Wisconsin
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Wisconsin based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Wisconsin.
#25. Washington County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 137,320
- Median household income: $95,851
- Median home value: $316,200
- Top places to live: Slinger (A), Germantown (A), Richfield (A-)
#24. Buffalo County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 13,341
- Median household income: $68,722
- Median home value: $197,600
- Top places to live: Nelson (B), Modena (B), Alma (B)
#23. Oconto County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 39,329
- Median household income: $75,886
- Median home value: $212,000
- Top places to live: Oconto (B), Oconto Falls (B-), Underhill (B)
#22. Sheboygan County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 117,783
- Median household income: $71,898
- Median home value: $218,400
- Top places to live: Kohler (A+), Oostburg (A-), Sheboygan (B+)
#21. Crawford County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 16,064
- Median household income: $63,496
- Median home value: $175,100
- Top places to live: Prairie du Chien (B), Bridgeport (B), Wauzeka (B-)
#20. Polk County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 45,327
- Median household income: $76,208
- Median home value: $241,200
- Top places to live: Dresser (B+), Amery (B+), Osceola (B)
#19. Waushara County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 24,752
- Median household income: $64,968
- Median home value: $186,000
- Top places to live: Wautoma (B-), Wild Rose (B+), Aurora (B)
#18. Adams County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 20,928
- Median household income: $59,153
- Median home value: $184,500
- Top places to live: Dell Prairie (B), Arkdale (B-), Rome (B-)
#17. Wood County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 74,039
- Median household income: $66,417
- Median home value: $168,100
- Top places to live: Marshfield (A-), Port Edwards (B+), Lake Wazeecha (B)
#16. Barron County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 46,741
- Median household income: $64,619
- Median home value: $198,300
- Top places to live: Rice Lake (B), Barron (B), Chetek (B-)
#15. Green Lake County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 19,165
- Median household income: $66,917
- Median home value: $206,300
- Top places to live: Berlin (B), Green Lake (B+), Markesan (B+)
#14. Price County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 14,077
- Median household income: $58,720
- Median home value: $146,000
- Top places to live: Hackett (B), Phillips (B), Worcester (B)
#13. Lincoln County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 28,403
- Median household income: $67,726
- Median home value: $177,700
- Top places to live: Tomahawk (B), Merrill (B-), Russell (B+)
#12. Forest County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 9,261
- Median household income: $59,727
- Median home value: $170,000
- Top places to live: Blackwell (B+), Wabeno (B), Laona (B-)
#11. Marinette County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 41,907
- Median household income: $63,401
- Median home value: $154,600
- Top places to live: Peshtigo (A-), Niagara (B), Marinette (B)
#10. Washburn County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 16,749
- Median household income: $61,270
- Median home value: $207,900
- Top places to live: Spooner (B-), Brooklyn (B+), Beaver Brook (B+)
#9. Burnett County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 16,741
- Median household income: $61,664
- Median home value: $215,500
- Top places to live: Grantsburg Town (B), Roosevelt (B), Swiss (B)
#8. Iron County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (D+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 6,164
- Median household income: $59,058
- Median home value: $155,200
- Top places to live: Hurley (B), Montreal (B+), Kimball (B)
#7. Bayfield County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (D+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 16,410
- Median household income: $69,609
- Median home value: $228,100
- Top places to live: Bell (A), Washburn (A), Bayview (A)
#6. Waukesha County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 409,040
- Median household income: $104,100
- Median home value: $373,600
- Top places to live: Brookfield (A+), Elm Grove (A+), Nashotah (A+)
#5. Sawyer County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 18,243
- Median household income: $59,055
- Median home value: $223,300
- Top places to live: Hayward (B), Bass Lake (B+), Spider Lake (B+)
#4. Ozaukee County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 92,345
- Median household income: $96,734
- Median home value: $368,900
- Top places to live: Mequon (A+), Thiensville (A+), Cedarburg (A+)
#3. Door County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 30,279
- Median household income: $71,785
- Median home value: $305,800
- Top places to live: Sturgeon Bay (B+), Egg Harbor (A), Ellison Bay (A)
#2. Oneida County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 38,007
- Median household income: $69,621
- Median home value: $227,500
- Top places to live: Rhinelander (B+), Woodruff (A-), Pine Lake (B+)
#1. Vilas County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 23,410
- Median household income: $67,132
- Median home value: $270,700
- Top places to live: Eagle River (B+), Presque Isle (B+), Arbor Vitae (B+)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
