Best counties to raise a family in Wisconsin
Best counties to raise a family in Wisconsin
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Wisconsin using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Bayfield County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (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)
#24. Green County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 37,036
- Median household income: $80,248
- Median home value: $236,900
- Top places to live: Brooklyn (A-), Monroe (B), Brodhead (B-)
#23. Jefferson County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 85,867
- Median household income: $80,604
- Median home value: $253,800
- Top places to live: Lake Mills (A-), Lake Ripley (A-), Fort Atkinson (B+)
#22. Dunn County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 45,349
- Median household income: $71,785
- Median home value: $226,200
- Top places to live: Menomonie (A-), Tainter Lake (B+), Downsville (A-)
#21. Marathon County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 138,067
- Median household income: $76,185
- Median home value: $205,500
- Top places to live: Wausau (A-), Kronenwetter (A-), Rothschild (A-)
#20. Walworth County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 105,447
- Median household income: $77,359
- Median home value: $275,900
- Top places to live: Lake Geneva (A-), Fontana-on-Geneva Lake (B+), Genoa City (B+)
#19. Portage County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 70,375
- Median household income: $73,284
- Median home value: $230,400
- Top places to live: Stevens Point (A), Plover (A), Whiting (A-)
#18. Rock County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 163,944
- Median household income: $74,390
- Median home value: $215,900
- Top places to live: Milton (A-), Edgerton (A-), Evansville (A-)
#17. Pierce County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 42,351
- Median household income: $88,802
- Median home value: $308,600
- Top places to live: Prescott (B+), Ellsworth (B), Clifton (B+)
#16. La Crosse County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 120,262
- Median household income: $70,704
- Median home value: $243,200
- Top places to live: Onalaska (A), West Salem (A-), Brice Prairie (B+)
#15. Door County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (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)
#14. Racine County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 196,888
- Median household income: $75,331
- Median home value: $239,400
- Top places to live: Wind Point (A+), Union Grove (A-), Sturtevant (B+)
#13. Outagamie County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 191,537
- Median household income: $82,857
- Median home value: $244,100
- Top places to live: Appleton (A), Combined Locks (A-), Kimberly (A-)
#12. Sheboygan County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (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+)
#11. Winnebago County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 171,357
- Median household income: $72,873
- Median home value: $208,600
- Top places to live: Neenah (A), Winneconne (A), Menasha (A-)
#10. Calumet County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 52,626
- Median household income: $87,700
- Median home value: $252,100
- Top places to live: Sherwood (A-), Chilton (B+), New Holstein (B+)
#9. Milwaukee County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 927,656
- Median household income: $62,118
- Median home value: $216,500
- Top places to live: Whitefish Bay (A+), Fox Point (A+), Shorewood (A+)
#8. Kenosha County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 168,413
- Median household income: $79,412
- Median home value: $247,800
- Top places to live: Pleasant Prairie (B+), Bristol (B+), Paddock Lake (B+)
#7. Eau Claire County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 106,328
- Median household income: $71,834
- Median home value: $242,400
- Top places to live: Eau Claire (A-), Altoona (A-), Washington (A)
#6. Washington County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), 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-)
#5. Brown County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 269,425
- Median household income: $77,490
- Median home value: $245,900
- Top places to live: Hobart (A), De Pere (A), Wrightstown (A)
#4. St. Croix County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 94,819
- Median household income: $102,482
- Median home value: $349,700
- Top places to live: North Hudson (A), Hudson (A), River Falls (A)
#3. Dane County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (C), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 564,777
- Median household income: $88,108
- Median home value: $366,100
- Top places to live: Shorewood Hills (A+), Middleton (A+), Verona (A+)
#2. Waukesha County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), 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+)
#1. Ozaukee County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (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+)
