Some of you might be asking yourself, at this very moment, is Wisconsin a good place?
The answer is unequivocally yes… if you know where to locate the best counties to live in Wisconsin.
Lucky for you, we’re here to help you identify the best counties to live in the Badger State based on the most recently available data from the Census. And this isn’t our first rodeo — we’ve been using Saturday Night Science to rank places for years.
The question becomes if you wanted to relocate to the best part of Wisconsin, where would you go? To answer that, we looked at crime, cost of living, and demographic data for all 72 counties in the state.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 Best Counties To Live In Wisconsin For 2026
Waukesha County is the county to be when it comes to living the good life in Wisconsin. And you should avoid Milwaukee County if you can — at least according to the data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Wisconsin. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Wisconsin and the cheapest places to live in Wisconsin.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Best Counties To Live In Wisconsin For 2026
1. Waukesha County
Biggest Place: Waukesha
Population: 411,762
Median Income: $106,076 (best)
Median Home Price: $494,694 (best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3% (6th best)
More on Waukesha County: Data
2. Ozaukee County
Biggest Place: Mequon
Population: 92,966
Median Income: $96,996 (3rd best)
Median Home Price: $494,293 (2nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8% (23rd best)
More on Ozaukee County: Data
3. St. Croix County
Biggest Place: River Falls
Population: 96,033
Median Income: $103,046 (2nd best)
Median Home Price: $467,938 (3rd best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6% (14th best)
More on St. Croix County: Data
4. Washington County
Biggest Place: Milwaukee
Population: 137,879
Median Income: $96,359 (4th best)
Median Home Price: $423,202 (6th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.5% (13th best)
More on Washington County: Data
5. Calumet County
Biggest Place: Appleton
Population: 52,942
Median Income: $88,810 (7th best)
Median Home Price: $370,910 (9th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1% (4th best)
More on Calumet County: Data
6. Dane County
Biggest Place: Madison
Population: 572,674
Median Income: $89,975 (6th best)
Median Home Price: $465,319 (4th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4% (9th best)
More on Dane County: Data
7. Door County
Biggest Place: Sturgeon Bay
Population: 30,445
Median Income: $74,795 (3best)
Median Home Price: $424,674 (5th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4% (10th best)
More on Door County: Data
8. Outagamie County
Biggest Place: Appleton
Population: 192,826
Median Income: $85,069 (9th best)
Median Home Price: $337,445 (14th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.7% (2best)
More on Outagamie County: Data
9. Kewaunee County
Biggest Place: Algoma
Population: 20,664
Median Income: $82,725 (12th best)
Median Home Price: $312,592 (27th best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5% (best)
More on Kewaunee County: Data
10. Iowa County
Biggest Place: Dodgeville
Population: 23,867
Median Income: $82,182 (13th best)
Median Home Price: $335,141 (15th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1% (38th best)
More on Iowa County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Wisconsin county is the best?
To give you the best county in Wisconsin, we have to look at a handful of metrics that signal the quality of a place. To do that, we made assumptions about what’s in a “best county” and what isn’t. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to two of the best data sources on the internet. Namely, the American Community Survey data and FBI Crime data for the most recent period.
We paid particular attention to:
- Violent Crime Rates
- Property Crime Rates
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Unemployment Rates
- Adult Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We then ranked each county in Wisconsin across each of the criteria from one to 72, with one being the best.
Taking the average rank across all criteria, we created a quality of life score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Best County To Live In Wisconsin.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and best counties to raise a family in the Badger State.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best counties to live in Wisconsin.
Read on to see why Waukesha County is the best county, while Milwaukee County is probably in contention for being the worst county in Wisconsin.
Summary: The Best Counties In Wisconsin To Call Home For 2026
Living in Wisconsin can vary from one part of the state to the next — who woulda thought?
The best counties in Wisconsin are Waukesha County, Ozaukee County, St. Croix County, Washington County, Calumet County, Dane County, Door County, Outagamie County, Kewaunee County, and Iowa County.
But now you know the outstanding parts and the parts to avoid, and that’s why you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the worst counties in Wisconsin according to the data:
- Milwaukee County
- Clark County
- Rusk County
For more Wisconsin reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Wisconsin
- Best Counties To Live In Wisconsin
- Best Places To Retire In Wisconsin
- Safest Places In Wisconsin
Detailed List Of The Best Counties In Wisconsin
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waukesha County | 411,762 | $106,076 | $494,694 |
| 2 | Ozaukee County | 92,966 | $96,996 | $494,293 |
| 3 | St. Croix County | 96,033 | $103,046 | $467,938 |
| 4 | Washington County | 137,879 | $96,359 | $423,202 |
| 5 | Calumet County | 52,942 | $88,810 | $370,910 |
| 6 | Dane County | 572,674 | $89,975 | $465,319 |
| 7 | Door County | 30,445 | $74,795 | $424,674 |
| 8 | Outagamie County | 192,826 | $85,069 | $337,445 |
| 9 | Kewaunee County | 20,664 | $82,725 | $312,592 |
| 10 | Iowa County | 23,867 | $82,182 | $335,141 |
| 11 | Pierce County | 42,584 | $92,109 | $361,588 |
| 12 | Green County | 37,017 | $82,852 | $327,447 |
| 13 | Oneida County | 38,167 | $69,371 | $311,080 |
| 14 | Oconto County | 39,589 | $75,049 | $300,349 |
| 15 | Columbia County | 58,272 | $85,351 | $351,612 |
| 16 | Sheboygan County | 117,991 | $73,094 | $315,782 |
| 17 | Brown County | 270,892 | $79,649 | $348,015 |
| 18 | Jefferson County | 86,003 | $83,750 | $359,898 |
| 19 | Sauk County | 66,009 | $79,541 | $330,476 |
| 20 | Walworth County | 105,657 | $80,520 | $404,316 |
| 21 | Chippewa County | 66,799 | $74,680 | $314,130 |
| 22 | Marathon County | 138,403 | $77,884 | $270,800 |
| 23 | La Crosse County | 120,488 | $73,013 | $326,199 |
| 24 | Polk County | 45,555 | $77,219 | $328,021 |
| 25 | Douglas County | 44,229 | $75,099 | $249,938 |
| 26 | Winnebago County | 171,769 | $74,925 | $297,134 |
| 27 | Portage County | 70,832 | $76,070 | $314,196 |
| 28 | Dodge County | 88,742 | $75,929 | $315,129 |
| 29 | Bayfield County | 16,575 | $71,151 | $294,111 |
| 30 | Vilas County | 23,647 | $68,431 | $389,396 |
| 31 | Dunn County | 45,527 | $74,824 | $306,489 |
| 32 | Eau Claire County | 107,116 | $74,546 | $314,564 |
| 33 | Fond Du Lac County | 104,137 | $74,275 | $282,904 |
| 34 | Buffalo County | 13,393 | $70,479 | $247,941 |
| 35 | Manitowoc County | 81,406 | $69,148 | $255,268 |
| 36 | Rock County | 164,350 | $75,673 | $286,956 |
| 37 | Waupaca County | 51,569 | $72,830 | $280,716 |
| 38 | Pepin County | 7,431 | $75,256 | $278,228 |
| 39 | Kenosha County | 168,438 | $81,239 | $323,633 |
| 40 | Trempealeau County | 30,839 | $76,313 | $271,969 |
| 41 | Racine County | 197,532 | $78,096 | $304,766 |
| 42 | Iron County | 6,210 | $60,625 | $210,259 |
| 43 | Lincoln County | 28,426 | $68,164 | $237,321 |
| 44 | Shawano County | 41,039 | $66,479 | $271,642 |
| 45 | Marinette County | 42,046 | $63,809 | $210,150 |
| 46 | Wood County | 74,004 | $67,989 | $223,019 |
| 47 | Washburn County | 16,854 | $63,441 | $303,499 |
| 48 | Taylor County | 20,024 | $69,350 | $226,316 |
| 49 | Barron County | 46,797 | $65,933 | $278,689 |
| 50 | Marquette County | 15,746 | $65,681 | $263,564 |
| 51 | Green Lake County | 19,263 | $68,196 | $286,241 |
| 52 | Lafayette County | 16,942 | $76,462 | $233,378 |
| 53 | Vernon County | 31,049 | $71,893 | $256,887 |
| 54 | Grant County | 51,770 | $66,858 | $222,303 |
| 55 | Burnett County | 16,916 | $62,819 | $290,649 |
| 56 | Price County | 14,092 | $60,546 | $200,456 |
| 57 | Florence County | 4,646 | $61,086 | $198,944 |
| 58 | Richland County | 17,205 | $66,420 | $267,992 |
| 59 | Monroe County | 46,208 | $69,467 | $254,612 |
| 60 | Sawyer County | 18,476 | $60,801 | $326,862 |
| 61 | Juneau County | 26,689 | $67,270 | $255,309 |
| 62 | Crawford County | 16,042 | $64,094 | $230,022 |
| 63 | Ashland County | 16,080 | $62,462 | $186,084 |
| 64 | Menominee County | 4,252 | $62,108 | $299,211 |
| 65 | Waushara County | 24,868 | $67,107 | $274,993 |
| 66 | Jackson County | 20,981 | $68,110 | $226,145 |
| 67 | Langlade County | 19,490 | $55,878 | $215,146 |
| 68 | Adams County | 21,123 | $59,442 | $246,818 |
| 69 | Forest County | 9,369 | $61,071 | $215,025 |
| 70 | Rusk County | 14,179 | $59,944 | $204,725 |
| 71 | Clark County | 34,739 | $67,400 | $217,631 |
| 72 | Milwaukee County | 926,331 | $64,435 | $283,166 |