Best places to live in Wisconsin
Cities and suburbs in Wisconsin with 25,000+ people, scored against each other: affordability on a $75k salary after taxes and rent (35%), violent crime (30%), schools (20%) and job growth (15%).
| # | City | Score | Rent | Home | Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eau Claire, WI | 65/100 | $1,045/mo | $248k | 7.5/10 |
| 2 | Appleton, WI | 60/100 | $1,030/mo | $231k | 7/10 |
| 3 | Green Bay, WI | 54/100 | $932/mo | $207k | 3.5/10 |
| 4 | Franklin, WI | 54/100 | $1,458/mo | $364k | 9.6/10 |
| 5 | Mequon, WI | 54/100 | $2,157/mo | $502k | 9.8/10 |
| 6 | La Crosse, WI | 53/100 | $1,010/mo | $210k | 5.3/10 |
| 7 | Oshkosh, WI | 52/100 | $935/mo | $178k | 6.6/10 |
| 8 | Brookfield, WI | 51/100 | $1,886/mo | $444k | 9.8/10 |
| 9 | Waukesha, WI | 49/100 | $1,219/mo | $316k | 6.4/10 |
| 10 | Oak Creek, WI | 49/100 | $1,452/mo | $332k | 7.7/10 |
| 11 | Wauwatosa, WI | 46/100 | $1,438/mo | $339k | 9.3/10 |
| 12 | Madison, WI | 38/100 | $1,413/mo | $373k | 4.4/10 |
| 13 | Milwaukee, WI | 25/100 | $1,059/mo | $184k | 1.2/10 |
Rent, income and home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Taxes: 2026 federal and state rates for a single filer.
Compare the top 4