If you’re considering retirement and want to live in Wisconsin, don’t waste another minute.
With ice fishing just off of La Crosse’s Goose Island and the Green Bay Packers in your backyard, your can spend your retirement years in Wisconsin. Make sure the city you choose is on our list of the best places to retire in Wisconsin for 2025.
You’ll be happy that you did.
How did we determine the best places to retire in the Badger State? To identify Wisconsin’s top ten, we consulted the numbers for factors like cost of living, crime, amenities, rent and distance to closest national airport. We analyzed 78 cities with over 10,000 residents.
Most of Wisconsin’s biggest cities like Milwaukee and Kenosha are the nexus for retirement. Many of the state’s retirees want to live in urban areas where they don’t have to drive or mow a lawn.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Wisconsin For 2025
Where is the best place to retire in Wisconsin? According to the latest data, Two Rivers is the best place to retire in Wisconsin for 2025.
Grab a bratwurst and some booyah stew as you learn more about the top ten on our list.
Why did Two Rivers take the top spot? And where are Milwaukee and Madison?
For more Wisconsin state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Wisconsin
- Cheapest Places To Live In Wisconsin
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Wisconsin
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Wisconsin For 2025
/10
Population: 11,224
Median Income: $58,716
Median Home Price: $121,800
Median Rent: $756
Distance to Closest Airport: 35 miles
More on Two Rivers: Data
/10
Population: 12,317
Median Income: $82,110
Median Home Price: $386,400
Median Rent: $1,057
Distance to Closest Airport: 24 miles
More on Cedarburg: Data
/10
Population: 34,553
Median Income: $62,133
Median Home Price: $143,900
Median Rent: $787
Distance to Closest Airport: 34 miles
More on Manitowoc: Data
/10
Population: 17,964
Median Income: $66,717
Median Home Price: $201,000
Median Rent: $977
Distance to Closest Airport: 1 miles
More on Cudahy: Data
/10
Population: 12,490
Median Income: $75,350
Median Home Price: $198,600
Median Rent: $957
Distance to Closest Airport: 47 miles
More on Fort Atkinson: Data
/10
Population: 11,060
Median Income: $57,461
Median Home Price: $111,600
Median Rent: $763
Distance to Closest Airport: 48 miles
More on Marinette: Data
/10
Population: 25,259
Median Income: $147,391
Median Home Price: $485,300
Median Rent: $2,271
Distance to Closest Airport: 19 miles
More on Mequon: Data
/10
Population: 10,568
Median Income: $67,621
Median Home Price: $184,400
Median Rent: $844
Distance to Closest Airport: 91 miles
More on Monroe: Data
/10
Population: 11,244
Median Income: $66,931
Median Home Price: $167,700
Median Rent: $830
Distance to Closest Airport: 63 miles
More on Waupun: Data
/10
Population: 10,259
Median Income: $73,052
Median Home Price: $255,300
Median Rent: $999
Distance to Closest Airport: 37 miles
More on Elkhorn: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Badger State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in Wisconsin to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Badger State — 773 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 78 places from across the state.
For these 78, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 78, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Two Rivers, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Wisconsin.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Wisconsin Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Wisconsin goes to Two Rivers.
The best places to retire in Wisconsin are Two Rivers, Cedarburg, Manitowoc, Cudahy, Fort Atkinson, Marinette, Mequon, Monroe, Waupun, and Elkhorn.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Madison
- Fitchburg
- Onalaska
For more Wisconsin reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Wisconsin
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Two Rivers | 11,224 | $58,716 | $121,800 | $756 |
| 2 | Cedarburg | 12,317 | $82,110 | $386,400 | $1,057 |
| 3 | Manitowoc | 34,553 | $62,133 | $143,900 | $787 |
| 4 | Cudahy | 17,964 | $66,717 | $201,000 | $977 |
| 5 | Fort Atkinson | 12,490 | $75,350 | $198,600 | $957 |
| 6 | Marinette | 11,060 | $57,461 | $111,600 | $763 |
| 7 | Mequon | 25,259 | $147,391 | $485,300 | $2,271 |
| 8 | Monroe | 10,568 | $67,621 | $184,400 | $844 |
| 9 | Waupun | 11,244 | $66,931 | $167,700 | $830 |
| 10 | Elkhorn | 10,259 | $73,052 | $255,300 | $999 |