Best counties to raise a family in Wisconsin

Written by:
September 1, 2023
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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 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.

#30. Vilas County, Wisconsin

- Population: 22,813
- Median home value: $220,700 (82% own)
- Median rent: $717 (18% own)
- Median household income: $56,837
- Top public schools: North Lakeland Elementary School (grade A minus), Northland Pines Elementary - St. Germain (grade A minus), Northland Pines Elementary - Land O' Lakes (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Christ Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Arbor Vitae (grade A minus), Lincoln (grade B+), Eagle River (grade B+)

#29. Lafayette County, Wisconsin

- Population: 16,662
- Median home value: $150,300 (79% own)
- Median rent: $746 (21% own)
- Median household income: $65,009
- Top public schools: Darlington High School (grade A minus), Darlington Elementary/Middle School (grade B+), Pecatonica High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Holy Rosary Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Blanchardville (grade A minus), Darlington (grade B+), Belmont (grade B+)

#28. Sauk County, Wisconsin

- Population: 65,428
- Median home value: $195,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $859 (28% own)
- Median household income: $67,702
- Top public schools: Ironton-La Valle Elementary School (grade B+), River Valley High School (grade B+), Baraboo High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Joseph Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. Peter's Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Sacred Heart Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Sauk City (grade B+), Lake Delton (grade B+), Baraboo (grade B+)

#27. Sawyer County, Wisconsin

- Population: 17,813
- Median home value: $184,000 (77% own)
- Median rent: $608 (23% own)
- Median household income: $53,011
- Top public schools: Hayward Middle School (grade B+), Hayward Intermediate School (grade B+), Winter Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Northern Lights Christian Academy (grade unavailable), St. Francis Solanus School (grade unavailable), Northwoods Mennonite School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Hayward (grade B minus), Bass Lake (grade A minus), Hunter (grade B+)

#26. Iowa County, Wisconsin

- Population: 23,715
- Median home value: $203,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $828 (24% own)
- Median household income: $73,716
- Top public schools: Mineral Point Middle School (grade A), Barneveld Elementary School (grade A), Mineral Point Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Joseph Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Dodgeville (grade B), Barneveld (grade A minus), Mineral Point Town (grade A minus)

#25. Bayfield County, Wisconsin

- Population: 16,031
- Median home value: $187,000 (83% own)
- Median rent: $767 (17% own)
- Median household income: $62,859
- Top public schools: Washburn Middle School (grade A minus), South Shore Elementary School (grade A minus), Drummond Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Washburn Town (grade A), Washburn (grade A), Bayfield (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: grade A minus

#24. Green County, Wisconsin

- Population: 37,098
- Median home value: $184,900 (75% own)
- Median rent: $791 (25% own)
- Median household income: $70,267
- Top public schools: Brooklyn Elementary School (grade A minus), Northside Elementary School (grade A minus), Juda High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Victor School (grade unavailable), Pleasant View Mennonite School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Brooklyn (grade A minus), Monroe (grade B+), Brodhead (grade B minus)

#23. Door County, Wisconsin

- Population: 29,713
- Median home value: $242,100 (81% own)
- Median rent: $859 (19% own)
- Median household income: $63,856
- Top public schools: Sevastopol Middle School (grade A), Gibraltar Elementary School (grade A minus), Sevastopol Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. John Bosco Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. Peter's Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Zion Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Sturgeon Bay (grade B+), Ephraim (grade A), Ellison Bay (grade A minus)

#22. Pierce County, Wisconsin

- Population: 42,204
- Median home value: $242,000 (74% own)
- Median rent: $917 (26% own)
- Median household income: $78,341
- Top public schools: Greenwood Elementary School (grade A minus), River Falls High School (grade A minus), Malone Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Francis School (grade unavailable), St. Joseph Catholic School (grade unavailable), Heartland Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Ellsworth (grade B), Prescott (grade B), River Falls Town (grade A minus)

#21. Jefferson County, Wisconsin

- Population: 84,808
- Median home value: $207,500 (73% own)
- Median rent: $911 (27% own)
- Median household income: $71,735
- Top public schools: Sullivan Elementary School (grade A minus), Lake Mills High School (grade A minus), Cambridge High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Luther Preparatory School (grade A minus), Lakeside Lutheran High School (grade B+), Maranatha Baptist Academy (grade B)
- Top places to live: Lake Mills (grade A minus), Lake Ripley (grade A minus), Fort Atkinson (grade B+)

#20. Dunn County, Wisconsin

- Population: 45,254
- Median home value: $180,600 (65% own)
- Median rent: $850 (35% own)
- Median household income: $64,420
- Top public schools: Elk Mound Middle School (grade A minus), Menomonie High School (grade B+), Boyceville Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Joseph School (grade unavailable), University of Wisconsin - Stout, Child and Family Study Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Tainter Lake (grade A minus), Menomonie (grade A minus), Downsville (grade A minus)

#19. Rock County, Wisconsin

- Population: 163,522
- Median home value: $165,800 (69% own)
- Median rent: $892 (31% own)
- Median household income: $65,518
- Top public schools: Roosevelt Elementary School (grade A minus), West Elementary School (grade A minus), Kennedy Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Rock County Christian School (grade B), Rock County Christian School - Janesville (grade A minus), Oakhill Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Edgerton (grade B+), Evansville (grade B+), Milton (grade B+)

#18. Marathon County, Wisconsin

- Population: 137,597
- Median home value: $169,200 (72% own)
- Median rent: $829 (28% own)
- Median household income: $67,940
- Top public schools: Odyssey Elementary School (grade A), Hatley Elementary School (grade A minus), Riverside Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Newman Catholic High School (grade A minus), Northland Lutheran High School (grade A minus), Wisconsin Valley Lutheran High School (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Wausau (grade A minus), Rothschild (grade A minus), Maine (grade A minus)

#17. Walworth County, Wisconsin

- Population: 105,945
- Median home value: $224,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $942 (30% own)
- Median household income: $69,382
- Top public schools: Badger High School (grade A), Reek Elementary School (grade A), Eastview Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Faith Christian School (grade B+), St. Francis de Sales School (grade unavailable), St. Andrew Parish School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Lake Geneva (grade A minus), Genoa City (grade A minus), Williams Bay (grade A minus)

#16. Winnebago County, Wisconsin

- Population: 171,304
- Median home value: $167,400 (66% own)
- Median rent: $815 (34% own)
- Median household income: $63,938
- Top public schools: Winneconne Middle School (grade A), Coolidge Elementary School (grade A), Tullar Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Valley Christian School (grade A minus), St. Mary Catholic High School (grade A minus), Lourdes Academy (grade B)
- Top places to live: Winneconne (grade A), Neenah (grade A minus), Menasha (grade B+)

#15. Portage County, Wisconsin

- Population: 70,378
- Median home value: $184,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $830 (30% own)
- Median household income: $65,550
- Top public schools: Bannach Elementary School (grade A minus), Stevens Point Area Senior High School (grade A minus), McDill Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Pacelli Catholic High School (grade A minus), Stevens Point Christian Academy (grade B minus), St. Paul Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Stevens Point (grade A), Plover (grade A minus), Whiting (grade A minus)

#14. Sheboygan County, Wisconsin

- Population: 117,528
- Median home value: $172,500 (71% own)
- Median rent: $782 (29% own)
- Median household income: $65,352
- Top public schools: Kohler Elementary School (grade A), Kohler High School (grade A), Oostburg Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Sheboygan Christian School (grade B+), Sheboygan Lutheran High School (grade B+), St. John the Baptist Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Kohler (grade A+), Oostburg (grade A minus), Sheboygan (grade B+)

#13. Calumet County, Wisconsin

- Population: 52,128
- Median home value: $198,900 (81% own)
- Median rent: $877 (19% own)
- Median household income: $78,453
- Top public schools: Woodland Intermediate School (grade A), Woodland Elementary School (grade A), Sunrise Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Mt. Cavalry Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Chilton Area Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Sherwood (grade A), Chilton (grade B+), Brillion (grade B+)

#12. Outagamie County, Wisconsin

- Population: 189,620
- Median home value: $188,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $864 (29% own)
- Median household income: $72,695
- Top public schools: Mapleview Intermediate School (grade A), J.R. Gerritts Middle School (grade A), Janssen Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Xavier Catholic Schools (grade A), Fox Valley Lutheran High School (grade A minus), St. Ignatius Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Appleton (grade A), Kimberly (grade A), Combined Locks (grade A)

#11. Eau Claire County, Wisconsin

- Population: 105,206
- Median home value: $195,200 (64% own)
- Median rent: $848 (36% own)
- Median household income: $64,777
- Top public schools: Memorial High School (grade A), Meadowview Elementary School (grade A minus), Robbins Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Regis High School (grade A minus), Immanuel Lutheran High School (grade B), Eau Claire Academy (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Eau Claire (grade A minus), Altoona (grade B+), Washington (grade A)

#10. Racine County, Wisconsin

- Population: 197,379
- Median home value: $194,800 (69% own)
- Median rent: $906 (31% own)
- Median household income: $67,224
- Top public schools: Drought Elementary School (grade A), Raymond Elementary School (grade A), Lakeview Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Prairie School (grade A+), Catholic Central High School (grade A minus), St. Catherine's High School (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Wind Point (grade A+), Union Grove (grade A minus), Mount Pleasant (grade B+)

#9. La Crosse County, Wisconsin

- Population: 120,291
- Median home value: $197,000 (62% own)
- Median rent: $899 (38% own)
- Median household income: $62,817
- Top public schools: Onalaska High School (grade A), Eagle Bluff Elementary School (grade A), Onalaska Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Luther High School (grade A minus), Aquinas High School (grade A minus), Coulee Christian School (grade B)
- Top places to live: Onalaska (grade A), West Salem (grade A minus), Holmen (grade B+)

#8. Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

- Population: 939,123
- Median home value: $172,400 (49% own)
- Median rent: $936 (51% own)
- Median household income: $54,793
- Top public schools: Whitefish Bay High School (grade A+), Shorewood High School (grade A+), Nicolet High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Divine Savior Holy Angels High School (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Shorewood (grade A+), Whitefish Bay (grade A+), River Hills (grade A+)

#7. Washington County, Wisconsin

- Population: 136,300
- Median home value: $259,000 (77% own)
- Median rent: $967 (23% own)
- Median household income: $85,574
- Top public schools: Slinger Middle School (grade A), Slinger Elementary School (grade A), Germantown High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Living Word Lutheran High School (grade A minus), Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School (grade B+), St. Augustine School (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Germantown (grade A), Richfield (grade A minus), Slinger (grade A minus)

#6. Kenosha County, Wisconsin

- Population: 168,743
- Median home value: $203,400 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,020 (33% own)
- Median household income: $70,073
- Top public schools: Lakeview Technology Academy (grade A), Brighton Elementary School (grade A), Riverview Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Shoreland Lutheran High School (grade A minus), Christian Life School (grade A minus), St. Joseph Catholic Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Pleasant Prairie (grade B+), Somers (grade B+), Paddock Lake (grade B+)

#5. Brown County, Wisconsin

- Population: 267,364
- Median home value: $193,500 (64% own)
- Median rent: $862 (36% own)
- Median household income: $68,799
- Top public schools: West De Pere High School (grade A), Susie C. Altmayer Elementary School (grade A), Foxview Intermediate School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Notre Dame de la Baie Academy (grade A), Northeastern Wisconsin Lutheran High School (grade B+), Bay City Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Hobart (grade A), De Pere (grade A), Allouez (grade A)

#4. St. Croix County, Wisconsin

- Population: 92,495
- Median home value: $282,100 (79% own)
- Median rent: $1,043 (21% own)
- Median household income: $91,320
- Top public schools: Houlton Elementary School (grade A), Hudson Prairie Elementary School (grade A), River Crest Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Trinity Academy (grade unavailable), St. Patrick School (grade unavailable), St. Bridget Parish School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: North Hudson (grade A), Hudson (grade A), River Falls (grade A minus)

#3. Dane County, Wisconsin

- Population: 555,474
- Median home value: $294,500 (58% own)
- Median rent: $1,179 (42% own)
- Median household income: $78,452
- Top public schools: Middleton High School (grade A+), West 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 A minus)
- Top places to live: Middleton (grade A+), Shorewood Hills (grade A+), Madison (grade A+)

#2. Waukesha County, Wisconsin

- Population: 405,332
- Median home value: $306,300 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,147 (24% own)
- Median household income: $94,310
- Top public schools: Brookfield East High School (grade A+), Brookfield Central High School (grade A+), Lake Country School District (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Brookfield (grade A+), Elm Grove (grade A+), Nashotah (grade A+)

#1. Ozaukee County, Wisconsin

- Population: 91,029
- Median home value: $305,700 (75% own)
- Median rent: $960 (25% own)
- Median household income: $86,915
- Top public schools: Homestead High School (grade A+), Lake Shore Middle School (grade A+), Cedarburg High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: First Immanuel Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Lumen Christi Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. Francis Borgia School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Mequon (grade A+), Thiensville (grade A+), Cedarburg (grade A+)

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