Best places to live in Wisconsin
CityLedger tracks 10 Wisconsin metros, led by Madison. Cost of living runs from about 92 to 101 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 10 metros in Wisconsin, the largest being the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Metro Area (around 1,574,452 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $70,556 in Janesville to $89,714 in Madison, and typical rent from $1,029 a month in Oshkosh upward — a reminder that "Wisconsin" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
La Crosse has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 92 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Madison delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $92,216.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: Wisconsin levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 5.7% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and Wisconsin state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Madison earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 82/100; La Crosse is the fastest-growing, up 25% over the latest population estimate; Appleton carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $6 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | 82 | 97 | $89,714 | $1,437/mo |
| Appleton, WI | 71 | 92 | $82,501 | $1,164/mo |
| Green Bay, WI | 65 | 93 | $79,876 | $1,052/mo |
| La Crosse, WI | 65 | 92 | $75,117 | $1,087/mo |
| Milwaukee, WI | 58 | 97 | $77,919 | $1,177/mo |
| Kenosha, WI | 57 | 101 | $83,529 | $1,289/mo |
| Eau Claire, WI | 55 | 93 | $74,869 | $1,135/mo |
| Oshkosh, WI | 55 | 93 | $71,146 | $1,029/mo |
| Janesville, WI | 46 | 94 | $70,556 | $1,150/mo |
| Racine, WI | 45 | 96 | $77,830 | $1,202/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in Wisconsin — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in Wisconsin?
- By overall price level, La Crosse is the most affordable metro in Wisconsin, at about 92 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in Wisconsin?
- Madison has the highest cost-adjusted income in Wisconsin — a median of about $92,216 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does Wisconsin have a state income tax?
- Yes. Wisconsin levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 5.7%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which Wisconsin metro has the highest livability score?
- Madison, at 82/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.