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 2026.
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 2026
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 2026.
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 2026
/10
Population: 11,231
Median Income: $57,222
Median Home Price: $218,730
Median Rent: $780
Distance to Closest Airport: 35 miles
More on Two Rivers: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,605
Median Income: $84,896
Median Home Price: $552,361
Median Rent: $1,116
Distance to Closest Airport: 24 miles
More on Cedarburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 34,620
Median Income: $63,757
Median Home Price: $235,894
Median Rent: $804
Distance to Closest Airport: 34 miles
More on Manitowoc: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,853
Median Income: $66,719
Median Home Price: $282,520
Median Rent: $1,028
Distance to Closest Airport: 1 miles
More on Cudahy: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,463
Median Income: $79,302
Median Home Price: $297,960
Median Rent: $961
Distance to Closest Airport: 47 miles
More on Fort Atkinson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,587
Median Income: $69,334
Median Home Price: $277,860
Median Rent: $862
Distance to Closest Airport: 91 miles
More on Monroe: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,987
Median Income: $83,419
Median Home Price: $351,654
Median Rent: $999
Distance to Closest Airport: 26 miles
More on Burlington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,115
Median Income: $58,638
Median Home Price: $195,369
Median Rent: $807
Distance to Closest Airport: 48 miles
More on Marinette: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 25,270
Median Income: $144,051
Median Home Price: $647,577
Median Rent: $2,157
Distance to Closest Airport: 19 miles
More on Mequon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 18,700
Median Income: $58,407
Median Home Price: $250,142
Median Rent: $842
Distance to Closest Airport: 101 miles
More on Marshfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Badger State for 2026
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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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, Monroe, Burlington, Marinette, Mequon, and Marshfield.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Fitchburg
- Madison
- Eau Claire
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 | 11,231 | $57,222 | $218,730 | $780 |
| 2 | Cedarburg | 12,605 | $84,896 | $552,361 | $1,116 |
| 3 | Manitowoc | 34,620 | $63,757 | $235,894 | $804 |
| 4 | Cudahy | 17,853 | $66,719 | $282,520 | $1,028 |
| 5 | Fort Atkinson | 12,463 | $79,302 | $297,960 | $961 |
| 6 | Monroe | 10,587 | $69,334 | $277,860 | $862 |
| 7 | Burlington | 10,987 | $83,419 | $351,654 | $999 |
| 8 | Marinette | 11,115 | $58,638 | $195,369 | $807 |
| 9 | Mequon | 25,270 | $144,051 | $647,577 | $2,157 |
| 10 | Marshfield | 18,700 | $58,407 | $250,142 | $842 |