The 10 Best Places To Live In Wisconsin For 2024


The best places to live in Wisconsin for 2024 are Elm Grove, Waunakee, and Fox Point. Find out where your city or town ranks.

The competition to determine the best places to live in Wisconsin for 2024 was fierce because every place in Wisconsin has a lot to offer.

There are hip millennial cities like Milwaukee, fun college cities like Madison, and sports crazy cities like Green Bay.

We narrowed the list of Wisconsin’s top ten best places by using Saturday Night Science to look at crime data, home prices, and other quality of life factors for every place in Wisconsin. In total, we analyzed 141 cities.

Now we invite you to grab some cheese, a Milwaukee’s Best, find a shady spot by Lake Winnebago, and read on as we uncover where you should live in Wisconsin.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Map | Methodology | Summary


The 10 Best Places To Live In Wisconsin For 2024

  1. Elm Grove
  2. Waunakee
  3. Fox Point
  4. Verona
  5. Whitefish Bay
  6. Cottage Grove
  7. Mount Horeb
  8. Cedarburg
  9. Mequon
  10. Oregon

What is the best place to live in Wisconsin? Elm Grove is the best place to live in Wisconsin.

Read to learn more about the top ten places to live in Wisconsin, a detailed explanation of how we ranked the places, a map of the best places, and a full table of all the best places in the Badger State.

For more reading, check out:

The 10 Best Places To Live In Wisconsin For 2024

Best Places To Live In Wisconsin Map

Elm Grove, WI

Source: Wikipedia User ChristOnABike | CC BY-SA 4.0
Stat Elm Grove Wisconsin
Population 6,445 5,882,128
Rank Last Year 3
Median Home Value $580,004 $286,891
Median Income $126,996 $72,458
Unemployment Rate 0.9% 3.4%
Crime Per Capita 0.0065 0.0179

More on Elm Grove: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

If you’re looking for a great place to live, Elm Grove is your place. This Milwaukee suburb in Waukesha County is after all one of the richest places in Wisconsin. But, if money is not an issue, then step right up and join this small town of 6,445 residents who can pay $580,004 for a home because they make at least $126,996/year. Elm Grove’s salaries aren’t just handed out to its residents, these people are educated: 38% have a Bachelor’s Degree and 18% have a Master’s Degree.

It also doesn’t hurt that 31% of Elm Grove’s residents make $200,000 or more a year. And with money like this, it’s not surprising that Elm Grove has the funds to pay for the programs to keep its crime rate 62% below the national average.

Waunakee, WI

Source: Wikipedia User User:Royalbroil | CC BY-SA 2.5
Stat Waunakee Wisconsin
Population 14,794 5,882,128
Rank Last Year 2
Median Home Value $512,820 $286,891
Median Income $132,305 $72,458
Unemployment Rate 1.3% 3.4%
Crime Per Capita 0.0036 0.0179

More on Waunakee: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Not only do happy cows come from Wisconsin’s 2nd best place to live, Waunakee, but a lot of happy people do as well. There’s a reason why notables like former NFL star Lawrence Johnson and the Wisconsin Badgers Women’s Volleyball Coach, Kelly Sheffield, have been singing Waunakee’s praises for years. Not only do they get some of the best ice cream from the happy cows at the local dairies, their cost of living is affordable, and they get to experience what makes Waunakee one of Wisconsin’s best on the daily.

Yes, things like low crime, great schools, low unemployment rates, and year-round fun, have been front and center in Waunakee for quite some time. So, when you’re ready to take charge of your quality of life by moving to Waunakee, this small town in Dane County, just north of Lake Mendota, has homes for $512,820. If that number makes you nervous, don’t let it–the job market is strong here and the average household income is $132,305/year.

Fox Point, WI

Source: Public domain
Stat Fox Point Wisconsin
Population 6,811 5,882,128
Rank Last Year 1
Median Home Value $481,451 $286,891
Median Income $130,865 $72,458
Unemployment Rate 0.4% 3.4%
Crime Per Capita 0.0076 0.0179

More on Fox Point: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Wisconsin’s 3rd best place to live, Fox Point is a year round playground for all. It’s position on Lake Michigan’s western shore and the fact that it is only 15 minutes north of Milwaukee allow one to spend the day with the kids in the water at Doctors Park and after hours soaking up the night life in the Badger State’s biggest city.

Fox Point is also easy on the wallet. The median household income here is $130,865/year and the median price for a home is $481,451. This small town in Wisconsin ranks the 3rd best for home values.

Not to mention, Fox Point’s job opportunities are endless. If you like the outdoors, water, and you have a boat, chartering fishing trips is a hot market in this bay city, and if protecting and serving is your schtick, you could become part of a team that keeps Fox Point’s crime rate 55% below the national average.

Verona, WI

Source: Public domain
Stat Verona Wisconsin
Population 14,040 5,882,128
Rank Last Year 11
Median Home Value $480,612 $286,891
Median Income $109,960 $72,458
Unemployment Rate 1.9% 3.4%
Crime Per Capita 0.0090 0.0179

More on Verona: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Verona, found in Dane County and a suburb of Madison, combines community spirit with access to metropolitan perks. Its 14,040 residents enjoy a 109,960 median income and property values of $480,612.

While the city may have been a leper colony in past life, you won’t be a leper when it comes to work. A low 1.9% unemployment rate places it 30th best in state rankings. Only ten miles from Madison, the city also serves as a haven for nature lovers, with trails like the Ice Age National Scenic Trail available for exploration.

Whitefish Bay, WI

Source: Public domain
Stat Whitefish Bay Wisconsin
Population 14,804 5,882,128
Rank Last Year 4
Median Home Value $553,113 $286,891
Median Income $142,356 $72,458
Unemployment Rate 3.2% 3.4%
Crime Per Capita 0.0088 0.0179

More on Whitefish Bay: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Start popping that champagne Whitefish Bay, you just earned the title, “Wisconsin’s 5th best place to live”. Holding strong with the #5 rank two years in a row, this bay city might not house an NFL Championship Team like Green Bay, but it’s winning at the things that really matter–cost of living, safety, education, and jobs.

Yes, if your real estate budget is $553,113 for a home, you can find that in Whitefish Bay. If you’re looking for job opportunities, Whitefish Bay’s unemployment rate is well below the national average at 3.2%. And if you’re looking for great schools, Whitefish has those, too–it’s one of Wisconsin’s best places to raise a family.

And if that doesn’t seal-the-deal, this should: you have a better chance of having an 80 degree day in January in this Great Lakes region than being a victim of a crime. Whitefish Bay’s crime rate is almost 50% below the national average.

Cottage Grove, WI

Source: Wikipedia User Amy Palcic | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Cottage Grove Wisconsin
Population 7,567 5,882,128
Rank Last Year 6
Median Home Value $416,743 $286,891
Median Income $123,750 $72,458
Unemployment Rate 1.9% 3.4%
Crime Per Capita 0.0019 0.0179

More on Cottage Grove: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Located about 15 miles east of Madison, Cottage Grove is our 6th best place to live in Wisconsin, a spot well deserved. This great place to live checks all the boxes you’d like to see. Niche gives the school system a solid A, it’s super safe, and the cost of living is affordable. Add the proximity to the University of Wisconsin into the mix and there will always be something to do nearby.

The numbers back up the rosy image of Cottage Grove, the city ranks 1st for property crime and 15th for violent crime. Both of those marks are some of the tops in the country given how safe Wisconsin is.

In town you can visit Bakken Park with the kids and then get a babysitter and head to Jack Sprats Restaurant for dinner. And then go home happy and healthy knowing you live in a great place to call home.

Mount Horeb, WI

Source: Wikipedia User Jaknelaps | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Mount Horeb Wisconsin
Population 7,717 5,882,128
Rank Last Year 7
Median Home Value $412,236 $286,891
Median Income $96,915 $72,458
Unemployment Rate 2.0% 3.4%
Crime Per Capita 0.0022 0.0179

More on Mount Horeb: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Like trolls? Well, welcome to Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, the “Troll Capital of the World.” More than that, Mount Horeb represents the number 7 best place to live in the state.

First off, let’s talk about those trolls. Drawing on the heritage of Norwegian settlers to the region, Mount Horeb created Trollway, an area in the business district decorated with life-sized troll statues. The town offers more than just kitschy tourist draws, however. Residents also enjoy a solid local economy and easy access to one of the state’s most important cities.

Mount Horeb sports an unemployment rate of 2.0%, the 33rd best pace in Wisconsin. The median income is $96,915 and the median home value comes in at $412,236.

The community offers significant draws for families, with 40.49% of households in town having children. The schools in the area rate a 7/10 on Great Schools’ ranking system. Crime is well below the national average and the cost of living is just 10% above the U.S. standard.

Beyond its homegrown benefits, Mount Horeb boasts an excellent location as well. A half hour drive takes you to downtown Madison, the state capital.

Cedarburg, WI

Source: Public domain
Stat Cedarburg Wisconsin
Population 12,213 5,882,128
Rank Last Year 5
Median Home Value $475,448 $286,891
Median Income $79,610 $72,458
Unemployment Rate 1.5% 3.4%
Crime Per Capita 0.0070 0.0179

More on Cedarburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Cedarburg, Wisconsin, started life as a mill town. While those rustic days are gone, the town has transitioned into a cozy suburb of nearby Milwaukee. It’s also one of the top places in Wisconsin to call home.

Cedarburg likes to flaunt its old-time charm, housing sites such as the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. Want to see what life in the region was like way back when? You can head to the historic Cedarburg Mill or check out the 1849 Kuhefuss House Museum.

The town has more than homespun charm, however. The community also offers an excellent place to raise a family. The median income stands at $79,610 and the median home value comes in at $475,448. Crime is low and the schools are stellar, with a 10/10 rating from Great Schools. Meanwhile, the area remains affordable. The cost of living is around the national average.

Even if quilts and old buildings aren’t your idea of a good time, Cedarburg offers plenty to do. It’s just a half-hour drive to downtown Milwaukee and, if you want even more action, only two hours from the heart of Chicago.

Mequon, WI

Source: Public domain
Stat Mequon Wisconsin
Population 25,102 5,882,128
Rank Last Year 9
Median Home Value $572,570 $286,891
Median Income $141,996 $72,458
Unemployment Rate 1.6% 3.4%
Crime Per Capita 0.0086 0.0179

More on Mequon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

You don’t have to use your math brain to figure out why Mequon is the 9th best place to live in Wisconsin. Up two spots from last year, the outstanding numbers this bay city in Ozaukee County reports year after year are pretty straightforward and pretty remarkable.

Yes, if you currently make $141,996/year, you’re going to fit in with the Mequon locals just fine, you’ll be able to buy a nice home at Mequon’s average home price of $572,570, and you’ll have a little extra cash to enjoy the daylife and the nightlife this Milwaukee suburb offers. The perfect day in Mequon might go something like this: first, a day at the beach in Virmond Park and an evening tasting Mequon’s local cuisine at a nice restaurant off Mequon Road.

At this point, the only thing stopping you from improving your quality of life with a new life in Mequon is you… and maybe your bank account. But, with an unemployment rate 1.6% plus the average income here, it shouldn’t be too hard to take care of that second hurdle.

Oregon, WI

Source: Wikipedia User James Steakley | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stat Oregon Wisconsin
Population 11,240 5,882,128
Rank Last Year 8
Median Home Value $422,070 $286,891
Median Income $95,453 $72,458
Unemployment Rate 1.5% 3.4%
Crime Per Capita 0.0073 0.0179

More on Oregon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

If you’re looking for that one place in Wisconsin that knows how to balance hard work and play, look no further than the state’s 10th best place to live, Oregon.

Centrally located just south of Madison, this little town of 11,240 residents is starting to see its name in the headlines more and more and this is because the locals here have a front row seat to great schools, an extremely low crime rate, and a strong job market. The numbers don’t lie, folks, Oregon’s unemployment rate is well below the national average at 1.5%.

And if you choose this small town in Dane County to buy your forever home, don’t be surprised if you get asked to take a hike around Lerner Conservation Park or a bike ride on the trails at Anderson Farm: the locals here are very serious about their activities and they can afford this kind of fun because their median income is $95,453/year.

Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in Wisconsin

Best Places To Live In Wisconsin Size Requirement

Before we even started to collect data on the best places to live in Wisconsin, we had to answer a tough question: Is it fair to pit Madison, with a population of 268,516, against places with a population of 18?

We firmly decided no, that just isn’t fair.

So, to create our ranking, we broke the best places to live into three tiers:

  • Cities — Populations over 5,000
  • Towns — Populations between 1,000 and 5,000
  • Small Towns — Populations below 1,000

This filter left 141 cities, 241 towns, and 380 small towns.

We then decided no matter how much anyone loves their town, the best cities to live in Wisconsin have more of everything, and therefore, you need over 5,000 people to truly be ‘the best.’

Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Wisconsin

Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.

We ranked each place in Wisconsin across a number of criteria from one to 141, with one being the best.

We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In Wisconsin.”

The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:

  • Median Home Values
  • Median Income
  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Unemployment Rate
  • Commute Time
  • Crime
  • Education Levels
  • Health Insurance Coverage
  • Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking Wisconsin’s best places to live.

If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in Wisconsin. Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Elm Grove at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Summary: The Best Places In Wisconsin

If you’re looking at areas in Wisconsin with the best economic situations, where there’s lower than average crime, and a lot to do, this is an accurate list.

The best places to live in Wisconsin are Elm Grove, Waunakee, Fox Point, Verona, Whitefish Bay, Cottage Grove, Mount Horeb, Cedarburg, Mequon, and Oregon.

Elm Grove made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in Wisconsin for 2024.

If you’re curious enough, here are the worst places to live in Wisconsin according to the data:

  1. Wisconsin Rapids (Pop. 18,783)
  2. Beloit (Pop. 36,642)
  3. Milwaukee (Pop. 573,299)

For more Wisconsin reading, check out:

Best Places To Live In Wisconsin Table

Rank City Population Unemployment Rate Home Value Median Income Rent Crime Per Capita
1 Elm Grove 6,445 0.9% $580,004 $126,996 $1,424 0.0065
2 Waunakee 14,794 1.3% $512,820 $132,305 $1,179 0.0036
3 Fox Point 6,811 0.4% $481,451 $130,865 $1,622 0.0076
4 Verona 14,040 1.9% $480,612 $109,960 $1,407 0.0090
5 Whitefish Bay 14,804 3.2% $553,113 $142,356 $1,262 0.0088
6 Cottage Grove 7,567 1.9% $416,743 $123,750 $1,453 0.0019
7 Mount Horeb 7,717 2.0% $412,236 $96,915 $1,184 0.0022
8 Cedarburg 12,213 1.5% $475,448 $79,610 $1,018 0.0070
9 Mequon 25,102 1.6% $572,570 $141,996 $2,254 0.0086
10 Oregon 11,240 1.5% $422,070 $95,453 $1,164 0.0073
11 Brookfield 41,342 2.8% $450,774 $121,837 $1,699 0.0135
12 Middleton 21,864 2.3% $523,693 $87,333 $1,326 0.0110
13 Evansville 5,720 2.1% $299,429 $83,431 $799 0.0021
14 De Pere 25,373 1.6% $337,383 $78,733 $979 0.0066
15 Grafton 12,160 2.0% $377,473 $83,500 $1,109 0.0100
16 McFarland 9,104 4.0% $418,062 $91,029 $1,339 0.0100
17 Hales Corners 7,677 2.5% $351,737 $84,911 $1,295 0.0086
18 Sheboygan Falls 8,163 1.4% $273,284 $66,416 $814 0.0051
19 Port Washington 12,446 3.1% $322,974 $76,609 $1,052 0.0057
20 Delafield 7,181 1.5% $638,617 $99,239 $1,370 0.0145
21 Muskego 25,073 3.5% $444,024 $112,537 $1,271 0.0051
22 Holmen 10,806 1.8% $357,250 $77,880 $1,093 0.0064
23 Menomonee Falls 38,610 2.1% $367,403 $96,986 $1,217 0.0100
24 New Berlin 40,387 2.6% $388,822 $94,769 $1,371 0.0081
25 Oconomowoc 18,178 2.2% $435,095 $99,104 $1,161 0.0054
26 Wauwatosa 47,919 2.2% $362,434 $93,812 $1,312 0.0270
27 Kronenwetter 8,335 1.4% $288,694 $107,727 $1,023 0.0038
28 Hartland 9,599 4.7% $421,737 $82,238 $1,069 0.0038
29 West Salem 5,253 2.4% $320,923 $79,891 $1,111 0.0095
30 Sun Prairie 35,847 1.6% $374,169 $90,384 $1,313 0.0182
31 Shorewood 13,707 3.8% $467,870 $87,161 $1,214 0.0179
32 Greendale 14,722 2.5% $342,979 $89,684 $1,152 0.0169
33 Suamico 12,878 2.5% $396,184 $111,320 $1,188 0.0227
34 Richfield 11,757 1.0% $493,223 $128,165 $1,383 0.0235
35 Milton 5,692 0.8% $293,485 $78,957 $890 0.0051
36 Onalaska 18,837 3.1% $315,396 $80,296 $1,049 0.0216
37 Rothschild 5,537 0.8% $214,618 $84,963 $827 0.0067
38 Hobart 10,130 0.2% $425,683 $107,222 $1,089 0.0227
39 Lake Mills 6,280 0.5% $364,364 $77,449 $1,082 0.0099
40 Allouez 14,089 2.3% $274,547 $84,198 $959 0.0227
41 Monona 8,592 2.5% $417,017 $87,723 $1,150 0.0361
42 Jackson 7,814 5.9% $367,088 $94,621 $1,151 0.0133
43 Plymouth 8,907 5.1% $279,607 $65,893 $848 0.0076
44 Sussex 11,549 3.6% $437,059 $105,435 $1,222 0.0320
45 Stoughton 13,091 2.4% $331,307 $73,014 $1,111 0.0146
46 Franklin 36,513 3.4% $380,895 $100,524 $1,262 0.0138
47 Hudson 14,763 0.9% $461,468 $90,250 $1,311 0.0263
48 Slinger 6,055 5.4% $404,668 $92,984 $1,052 0.0081
49 Burlington 11,000 3.2% $305,324 $80,529 $939 0.0065
50 Little Chute 11,798 2.6% $250,340 $69,102 $1,042 0.0064
51 Mukwonago 8,311 4.9% $423,592 $91,827 $1,083 0.0123
52 Waterford 5,587 2.3% $383,978 $81,575 $1,179 0.0192
53 Oak Creek 36,286 1.4% $356,263 $86,408 $1,312 0.0217
54 River Falls 16,165 3.3% $370,227 $72,247 $1,004 0.0155
55 Kaukauna 17,111 2.2% $258,413 $74,575 $973 0.0102
56 Waukesha 70,945 2.9% $328,532 $77,558 $1,115 0.0090
57 Caledonia 25,277 3.8% $327,335 $90,346 $982 0.0049
58 Pewaukee 8,227 2.2% $459,571 $60,202 $1,199 0.0320
59 Kimberly 7,331 5.1% $243,898 $65,061 $848 0.0064
60 Altoona 8,506 3.4% $306,195 $77,002 $980 0.0219
61 Bristol 5,169 7.9% $533,141 $103,652 $1,345 0.0148
62 Howard 20,022 2.4% $340,552 $77,118 $998 0.0227
63 DeForest 10,767 2.2% $356,196 $97,381 $1,278 0.0361
64 New Richmond 10,158 2.2% $345,613 $78,077 $959 0.0123
65 Two Rivers 11,252 1.4% $256,600 $56,236 $744 0.0068
66 Columbus 5,481 2.1% $268,346 $65,727 $819 0.0064
67 Cudahy 18,087 2.3% $248,599 $66,592 $949 0.0123
68 Lake Hallie 7,178 0.7% $308,070 $76,134 $1,019 0.0152
69 Sturgeon Bay 9,620 5.0% $327,051 $55,791 $952 0.0078
70 Elkhorn 10,253 1.5% $310,154 $72,958 $951 0.0076
71 Waupun 11,109 1.9% $216,145 $66,033 $797 0.0046
72 Madison 268,516 2.6% $369,136 $74,895 $1,291 0.0271
73 Menasha 18,125 3.2% $292,014 $62,514 $820 0.0117
74 Reedsburg 10,019 2.1% $265,464 $66,026 $875 0.0175
75 Neenah 27,309 2.7% $295,098 $71,280 $904 0.0152
76 Glendale 13,227 4.1% $312,896 $79,861 $1,217 0.0511
77 Beaver Dam 16,652 4.3% $239,342 $65,802 $936 0.0084
78 Pleasant Prairie 21,373 4.7% $386,284 $99,635 $1,400 0.0123
79 Sturtevant 6,823 8.3% $245,292 $83,816 $1,071 0.0079
80 Plover 13,549 2.2% $296,269 $76,120 $985 0.0168
81 Fitchburg 29,826 1.4% $447,181 $87,253 $1,284 0.0174
82 St. Francis 9,288 1.0% $250,548 $51,749 $882 0.0126
83 Ashwaubenon 16,939 3.8% $289,524 $67,748 $895 0.0227
84 Bellevue 16,086 3.1% $345,424 $76,152 $1,039 0.0227
85 Mount Pleasant 27,640 3.0% $292,158 $83,827 $1,023 0.0188
86 Ripon 7,823 2.5% $183,554 $56,563 $715 0.0083
87 Appleton 75,133 3.9% $256,611 $75,469 $913 0.0175
88 Eau Claire 69,098 3.6% $282,687 $63,882 $929 0.0238
89 Greenfield 37,521 3.5% $291,988 $67,536 $1,096 0.0271
90 Brown Deer 12,593 3.8% $253,305 $88,164 $991 0.0545
91 Hartford 15,667 3.2% $324,957 $70,887 $990 0.0065
92 Fort Atkinson 12,522 3.1% $256,174 $72,215 $969 0.0120
93 Edgerton 5,878 4.7% $255,568 $80,255 $1,056 0.0070
94 Monroe 10,622 3.6% $237,656 $62,191 $807 0.0175
95 South Milwaukee 20,678 3.5% $256,703 $68,801 $979 0.0127
96 Weston 15,698 4.0% $250,370 $71,466 $920 0.0217
97 Marshfield 18,795 3.0% $223,593 $58,474 $799 0.0217
98 Janesville 65,669 4.1% $248,170 $68,610 $993 0.0215
99 West Bend 31,682 3.5% $300,826 $71,904 $973 0.0235
100 Rhinelander 8,236 1.8% $225,786 $47,730 $867 0.0148

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.