The 10 Best Small Towns In Wisconsin For 2026


The best small towns in Wisconsin are Maple Bluff and Shorewood Hills for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Wisconsin. Best sururbs in Wisconsin. Best counties in Wisconsin.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Badger State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Wisconsin based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Wisconsin ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

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

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Wisconsin For 2026

  1. Maple Bluff
  2. Shorewood Hills
  3. Cross Plains
  4. Nashotah
  5. Bayside
  6. Wind Point
  7. Okauchee Lake
  8. Prairie du Sac
  9. North Prairie
  10. Butte des Morts
  11. Combined Locks
  12. Lodi
  13. Kohler
  14. Belleville
  15. Dane

Best Small Towns To Live In Wisconsin Map

What’s the best small town in Wisconsin? Maple Bluff is the best small town in Wisconsin based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Maple Bluff, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Badger State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Wisconsin For 2026

1. Maple Bluff

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,329
Median Income: $198,750 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $1,006,700 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

2. Shorewood Hills

Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 2,149
Median Income: $153,542 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,166,799 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.6%

3. Cross Plains

Cross Plains, WI

Source: Wikipedia User Royalbroil | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 4,107
Median Income: $105,145 (28th Best)
Median Home Value: $504,940 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

4. Nashotah

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,354
Median Income: $148,403 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $714,596 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.6%

5. Bayside

Bayside, WI

Source: Flickr User brennanMKE | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 4,329
Median Income: $160,096 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $548,316 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.7%

6. Wind Point

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,531
Median Income: $142,955 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $416,700 (36th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

7. Okauchee Lake

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,733
Median Income: $131,170 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $616,360 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

8. Prairie Du Sac

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,382
Median Income: $101,049 (31st Best)
Median Home Value: $416,059 (37th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%

9. North Prairie

North Prairie, WI

Source: Flickr User hmalsch | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 2,385
Median Income: $152,798 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $484,308 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

10. Butte Des Morts

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,064
Median Income: $121,667 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $500,646 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

11. Combined Locks

Combined Locks, WI

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,622
Median Income: $93,490 (46th Best)
Median Home Value: $342,965 (86th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.3%

12. Lodi

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,204
Median Income: $117,584 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $459,917 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%

13. Kohler

Kohler, WI

Source: Wikipedia User self | CC BY-SA 2.5
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 2,175
Median Income: $135,833 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $439,379 (31st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%

14. Belleville

Belleville, WI

Source: Wikipedia User James Steakley | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,579
Median Income: $88,304 (57th Best)
Median Home Value: $362,643 (71st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%

15. Dane

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,067
Median Income: $108,375 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $503,411 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.5%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Wisconsin

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Wisconsin possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 234 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 234, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Wisconsin. Top of that list — Maple Bluff.

This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live in Wisconsin.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Wisconsin are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Wisconsin are Maple Bluff, Shorewood Hills, Cross Plains, Nashotah, Bayside, Wind Point, Okauchee Lake, Prairie du Sac, North Prairie, and Butte des Morts.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Wisconsin:

  1. Necedah
  2. Adams
  3. Little Round Lake

For more Wisconsin reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Wisconsin

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Maple Bluff, WI 1,329 $198,750 1.3%
2 Shorewood Hills, WI 2,149 $153,542 1.6%
3 Cross Plains, WI 4,107 $105,145 0.9%
4 Nashotah, WI 1,354 $148,403 0.6%
5 Bayside, WI 4,329 $160,096 2.7%
6 Wind Point, WI 1,531 $142,955 0.9%
7 Okauchee Lake, WI 4,733 $131,170 1.3%
8 Prairie Du Sac, WI 4,382 $101,049 0.7%
9 North Prairie, WI 2,385 $152,798 0.9%
10 Butte Des Morts, WI 1,064 $121,667 2.6%
11 Combined Locks, WI 3,622 $93,490 5.3%
12 Lodi, WI 3,204 $117,584 3.9%
13 Kohler, WI 2,175 $135,833 4.1%
14 Belleville, WI 2,579 $88,304 0.9%
15 Dane, WI 1,067 $108,375 0.5%
16 Thiensville, WI 3,299 $95,685 0.6%
17 Merton, WI 3,550 $173,913 1.9%
18 North Hudson, WI 3,819 $122,647 3.7%
19 Sherwood, WI 3,252 $109,524 0.9%
20 Johnson Creek, WI 3,362 $100,685 0.3%
21 Brooklyn, WI 1,408 $108,929 3.3%
22 Oakfield, WI 1,182 $91,172 0.0%
23 Deerfield, WI 2,541 $91,029 0.4%
24 River Hills, WI 1,632 $204,427 1.4%
25 Dousman, WI 2,479 $96,513 1.0%
26 Wright, WI 3,322 $93,125 1.6%
27 Lannon, WI 1,482 $83,889 1.5%
28 Eagle, WI 2,054 $112,083 1.6%
29 Spring Green, WI 1,397 $87,344 3.1%
30 Marathon City, WI 1,422 $89,519 0.4%
31 Sauk City, WI 3,483 $91,042 2.9%
32 Lake Wissota, WI 3,184 $105,150 7.8%
33 Ixonia, WI 2,684 $93,359 2.3%
34 Howards Grove, WI 3,223 $78,333 1.5%
35 Wales, WI 2,902 $109,024 4.3%
36 Lake Camelot, WI 1,162 $95,125 0.0%
37 Elkhart Lake, WI 1,092 $94,250 9.9%
38 St. Peter, WI 1,413 $137,604 2.6%
39 Winneconne, WI 2,511 $82,411 2.7%
40 Prescott, WI 4,503 $74,412 3.1%
41 Cuba City, WI 2,007 $74,571 0.4%
42 Seymour, WI 1,531 $95,139 0.8%
43 Denmark, WI 2,558 $75,714 1.1%
44 Newburg, WI 1,287 $78,214 1.3%
45 Cedar Grove, WI 2,402 $84,344 1.4%
46 Poynette, WI 2,678 $93,500 0.0%
47 Big Bend, WI 1,291 $134,615 0.6%
48 Oostburg, WI 3,058 $87,857 2.3%
49 Baldwin, WI 4,342 $77,179 0.3%
50 Eagle Lake, WI 1,037 $95,625 1.2%
51 Bangor, WI 1,517 $81,250 2.7%
52 Mineral Point, WI 2,559 $81,000 0.8%
53 Black Earth, WI 1,736 $75,625 3.7%
54 Lancaster, WI 3,976 $84,302 1.8%
55 Random Lake, WI 1,575 $89,601 3.5%
56 Luxemburg, WI 2,737 $77,500 1.9%
57 Rochester, WI 3,764 $107,038 1.0%
58 Seymour, WI 3,570 $80,602 3.2%
59 Fredonia, WI 2,448 $99,013 3.5%
60 Brice Prairie, WI 1,782 $94,408 1.4%
61 Barneveld, WI 1,416 $113,542 2.8%
62 Pulaski, WI 4,006 $71,473 1.1%
63 Whiting, WI 1,493 $73,063 2.6%
64 East Troy, WI 4,978 $79,669 1.9%
65 Amherst, WI 1,113 $64,922 0.8%
66 Kewaunee, WI 2,806 $82,028 0.3%
67 Mazomanie, WI 1,694 $86,023 1.7%
68 Williams Bay, WI 2,981 $84,113 2.4%
69 Belgium, WI 2,488 $74,886 5.2%
70 New Glarus, WI 2,172 $101,098 6.3%
71 Cambridge, WI 1,617 $87,917 2.7%
72 Viroqua, WI 4,471 $67,438 2.9%
73 Powers Lake, WI 1,278 $83,750 2.5%
74 Kekoskee, WI 1,067 $96,944 3.2%
75 Delavan Lake, WI 2,757 $83,550 2.4%
76 Marshall, WI 3,778 $85,942 2.2%
77 Kiel, WI 3,943 $75,953 2.1%
78 Sister Bay, WI 1,044 $71,169 0.7%
79 King, WI 1,399 $84,183 0.0%
80 Chilton, WI 4,049 $82,923 1.2%
81 Cleveland, WI 1,676 $82,589 0.7%
82 Paddock Lake, WI 2,947 $87,800 2.5%
83 Ellsworth, WI 3,349 $87,857 0.8%
84 Lauderdale Lakes, WI 1,469 $74,313 2.5%
85 Tainter Lake, WI 2,609 $105,781 4.0%
86 Campbellsport, WI 1,973 $80,040 1.3%
87 Amery, WI 2,959 $59,219 1.0%
88 Hortonville, WI 3,256 $82,063 0.7%
89 Saukville, WI 4,267 $79,730 3.7%
90 Bloomer, WI 3,673 $58,106 2.7%
91 Omro, WI 3,642 $62,000 2.0%
92 Shell Lake, WI 1,459 $57,500 0.5%
93 Bohners Lake, WI 2,460 $76,359 6.9%
94 Fontana-On-Geneva Lake, WI 1,737 $106,750 3.3%
95 Lake Wazeecha, WI 2,850 $93,346 3.1%
96 Galesville, WI 1,742 $71,429 0.0%
97 Mosinee, WI 4,498 $73,479 0.0%
98 New Holstein, WI 3,075 $59,667 0.6%
99 Trempealeau, WI 1,864 $79,254 2.1%
100 Clinton, WI 2,041 $72,019 4.2%
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.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings