Is being in an area of Wisconsin that’s growing quickly a good thing or a bad thing?
Depends on who you ask.
Some want bigger, more exciting cities like Milwaukee and Madison, while others want peace and quiet like in Union Grove and Dodgeville, thank you very much.
But today, we’re going to put opinions aside and look at the cold, hard facts — since 2010, which cities in Wisconsin have grown the fastest.
After getting knee-deep in the Census’s American Community Survey using Saturday Night Science, we emerged with this set of cities in the Badger State that have people climbing over each other to get in.
Wisconsin gained a net 6,984 people from other states in the year ending July 2025 — 20th in the nation for domestic migration; the full moving statistics breakdown shows who’s coming and going.
103.2% growth since 2010 · 2,644 net new residents
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
77.0% growth since 2010 · 4,617 net new residents
Located in
Brown County, Wisconsin
Hobart is a village in Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 6,182 at the 2010 census. Hobart is a part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area. A small portion of the village is part of the unincorporated census-designated place given the name of Oneida, Wisconsin. Most of the CDP is located within the Town of Oneida in Outagamie County, Wisconsin. This CDP is an entity created solely for statistic purposes.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
51.8% growth since 2010 · 5,199 net new residents
Located in
Dane County, Wisconsin
Verona is a city in Dane County, Wisconsin, in the United States and is a suburb of Madison. The population was 10,619 at the 2010 census. The city is located ten miles southwest of downtown Madison within the Town of Verona. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
46.2% growth since 2010 · 2,689 net new residents
Located in
Dane County, Wisconsin
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
35.7% growth since 2010 · 4,130 net new residents
Located in
Dane County, Wisconsin
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
35.1% growth since 2010 · 9,762 net new residents
Located in
Dane County, Wisconsin
Sun Prairie is a city in Dane County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. A suburb of Madison, it is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city’s population was 29,441 at the 2010 U.S. Census. It is the second most populous city in Dane County after Madison.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
34.5% growth since 2010 · 2,917 net new residents
Located in
La Crosse County, Wisconsin
Holmen is a village in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,005 as of the census of 2010. It is part of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
33.3% growth since 2010 · 8,153 net new residents
Located in
Dane County, Wisconsin
Fitchburg is a city in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 25,260 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is a suburb of Madison and is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area. Fitchburg consists of a mix of suburban neighborhoods closer the border with the city of Madison, commercial and industrial properties, and more rural properties in the southern portion of the city. Despite its status as an incorporated city, some rural parts of Fitchburg still lack certain municipal services such as sewer, water, and natural gas.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
32.8% growth since 2010 · 2,193 net new residents
Located in
Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
Altoona is a city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 6,706 at the 2010 census, with an estimated population in 2014 of 7,155. The city is a railroad terminal on the Union Pacific Railroad.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
32.7% growth since 2010 · 2,832 net new residents
Located in
Dane County, Wisconsin
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Wisconsin’s statewide median.
On the map
Where Wisconsin’s growth is happening
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Measured The Fastest Growing Cities In the Badger State for 2026
To figure out which cities are growing the most, we used Saturday Night Science to look at the growth rates for cities since the beginning of the decade, according to the American Community Survey put out by the census every year. Specifically:
- Current Population
- Population in 2010
- Growth rate from 2010 to Current (the latest available data, which came out in Dec 2024)
We ranked all 145 Wisconsin cities with a population over 5,000 people from highest growth rate to lowest.
The city with the highest growth rate during this time was crowned the fastest-growing city in the Badger State.
And for those of you who are a little rusty with their statistics, you can calculate the growth rate by the following formula: [Current Population – Population 2010] / [Population 2010].
The data has been updated for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the fastest growing cities in Wisconsin.
The full plate
Fastest Growing Places In Wisconsin For 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Population | Population 2010 | Growth | Absolute Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol | 5,207 | 2,563 | 103.2% | 2,644 |
| 2 | Hobart | 10,610 | 5,993 | 77.0% | 4,617 |
| 3 | Verona | 15,232 | 10,033 | 51.8% | 5,199 |
| 4 | Cottage Grove | 8,513 | 5,824 | 46.2% | 2,689 |
| 5 | Waunakee | 15,687 | 11,557 | 35.7% | 4,130 |
| 6 | Sun Prairie | 37,570 | 27,808 | 35.1% | 9,762 |
| 7 | Holmen | 11,372 | 8,455 | 34.5% | 2,917 |
| 8 | Fitchburg | 32,619 | 24,466 | 33.3% | 8,153 |
| 9 | Altoona | 8,878 | 6,685 | 32.8% | 2,193 |
| 10 | DeForest | 11,501 | 8,669 | 32.7% | 2,832 |
| 11 | Middleton | 22,301 | 17,164 | 29.9% | 5,137 |
| 12 | Slinger | 6,307 | 4,870 | 29.5% | 1,437 |
| 13 | Oregon | 11,547 | 8,942 | 29.1% | 2,605 |
| 14 | New Richmond | 10,539 | 8,254 | 27.7% | 2,285 |
| 15 | Howard | 21,087 | 16,735 | 26.0% | 4,352 |
| 16 | Pewaukee | 16,211 | 12,963 | 25.1% | 3,248 |
| 17 | Oconomowoc | 19,080 | 15,265 | 25.0% | 3,815 |
| 18 | Jackson | 8,003 | 6,474 | 23.6% | 1,529 |
| 19 | Kronenwetter | 8,395 | 6,887 | 21.9% | 1,508 |
| 20 | Hudson | 14,959 | 12,333 | 21.3% | 2,626 |
| 21 | Madison | 278,001 | 229,236 | 21.3% | 48,765 |
| 22 | McFarland | 9,160 | 7,574 | 20.9% | 1,586 |
| 23 | Suamico | 12,985 | 10,867 | 19.5% | 2,118 |
| 24 | Lake Hallie | 7,285 | 6,135 | 18.7% | 1,150 |
| 25 | Mukwonago | 8,415 | 7,090 | 18.7% | 1,325 |
| 26 | Evansville | 5,782 | 4,875 | 18.6% | 907 |
| 27 | Sussex | 12,066 | 10,262 | 17.6% | 1,804 |
| 28 | Kaukauna | 17,706 | 15,075 | 17.5% | 2,631 |
| 29 | Plover | 13,884 | 11,830 | 17.4% | 2,054 |
| 30 | Bellevue | 16,442 | 14,053 | 17.0% | 2,389 |
| 31 | Kimberly | 7,447 | 6,432 | 15.8% | 1,015 |
| 32 | Lake Mills | 6,470 | 5,602 | 15.5% | 868 |
| 33 | Hartford | 15,821 | 13,747 | 15.1% | 2,074 |
| 34 | River Falls | 16,719 | 14,696 | 13.8% | 2,023 |
| 35 | Mount Horeb | 7,736 | 6,807 | 13.6% | 929 |
| 36 | Port Washington | 12,645 | 11,146 | 13.4% | 1,499 |
| 37 | Pleasant Prairie | 21,669 | 19,124 | 13.3% | 2,545 |
| 38 | Reedsburg | 10,168 | 8,982 | 13.2% | 1,186 |
| 39 | Onalaska | 19,348 | 17,137 | 12.9% | 2,211 |
| 40 | Oak Creek | 37,325 | 33,069 | 12.9% | 4,256 |
| 41 | Sheboygan Falls | 8,547 | 7,608 | 12.3% | 939 |
| 42 | Menomonee Falls | 39,539 | 35,221 | 12.3% | 4,318 |
| 43 | Monona | 8,527 | 7,598 | 12.2% | 929 |
| 44 | Edgerton | 6,014 | 5,363 | 12.1% | 651 |
| 45 | Little Chute | 11,754 | 10,493 | 12.0% | 1,261 |
| 46 | Hartland | 9,972 | 8,928 | 11.7% | 1,044 |
| 47 | West Salem | 5,330 | 4,773 | 11.7% | 557 |
| 48 | Columbus | 5,488 | 4,920 | 11.5% | 568 |
| 49 | Lake Geneva | 8,521 | 7,685 | 10.9% | 836 |
| 50 | Cedarburg | 12,605 | 11,382 | 10.7% | 1,223 |
| 51 | Whitewater | 15,807 | 14,290 | 10.6% | 1,517 |
| 52 | Waterford | 5,692 | 5,161 | 10.3% | 531 |
| 53 | Grafton | 12,445 | 11,338 | 9.8% | 1,107 |
| 54 | Weston | 15,749 | 14,381 | 9.5% | 1,368 |
| 55 | Mequon | 25,270 | 23,097 | 9.4% | 2,173 |
| 56 | North Fond du Lac | 5,392 | 4,935 | 9.3% | 457 |
| 57 | Dodgeville | 5,042 | 4,627 | 9.0% | 415 |
| 58 | De Pere | 25,301 | 23,225 | 8.9% | 2,076 |
| 59 | Mount Pleasant | 27,953 | 25,702 | 8.8% | 2,251 |
| 60 | Chippewa Falls | 14,782 | 13,640 | 8.4% | 1,142 |
| 61 | New London | 7,726 | 7,150 | 8.1% | 576 |
| 62 | Brookfield | 41,273 | 38,198 | 8.1% | 3,075 |
| 63 | Eau Claire | 70,322 | 65,133 | 8.0% | 5,189 |
| 64 | Neenah | 27,336 | 25,328 | 7.9% | 2,008 |
| 65 | Rothschild | 5,600 | 5,195 | 7.8% | 405 |
| 66 | Baraboo | 12,769 | 11,861 | 7.7% | 908 |
| 67 | Elm Grove | 6,459 | 6,001 | 7.6% | 458 |
| 68 | Menasha | 18,273 | 17,033 | 7.3% | 1,240 |
| 69 | Muskego | 25,406 | 23,726 | 7.1% | 1,680 |
| 70 | Twin Lakes | 6,309 | 5,901 | 6.9% | 408 |
| 71 | Germa | 20,962 | 19,609 | 6.9% | 1,353 |
| 72 | Rice Lake | 9,030 | 8,453 | 6.8% | 577 |
| 73 | Glendale | 13,656 | 12,791 | 6.8% | 865 |
| 74 | Sturgeon Bay | 9,806 | 9,198 | 6.6% | 608 |
| 75 | Tomah | 9,532 | 8,975 | 6.2% | 557 |
| 76 | Plymouth | 8,890 | 8,372 | 6.2% | 518 |
| 77 | Sparta | 9,950 | 9,392 | 5.9% | 558 |
| 78 | Brown Deer | 12,564 | 11,867 | 5.9% | 697 |
| 79 | Burlington | 10,987 | 10,398 | 5.7% | 589 |
| 80 | Elkhorn | 10,221 | 9,693 | 5.4% | 528 |
| 81 | Franklin | 35,886 | 34,058 | 5.4% | 1,828 |
| 82 | Rhinelander | 8,316 | 7,894 | 5.3% | 422 |
| 83 | Wauwatosa | 48,529 | 46,179 | 5.1% | 2,350 |
| 84 | Platteville | 11,499 | 10,951 | 5.0% | 548 |
| 85 | Whitefish Bay | 14,665 | 13,988 | 4.8% | 677 |
| 86 | Richfield | 11,755 | 11,225 | 4.7% | 530 |
| 87 | Waupaca | 6,283 | 6,012 | 4.5% | 271 |
| 88 | Greendale | 14,594 | 13,980 | 4.4% | 614 |
| 89 | West Bend | 32,030 | 30,764 | 4.1% | 1,266 |
| 90 | Janesville | 66,030 | 63,441 | 4.1% | 2,589 |
| 91 | Fond du Lac | 44,494 | 42,898 | 3.7% | 1,596 |
| 92 | Shorewood | 13,627 | 13,144 | 3.7% | 483 |
| 93 | Union Grove | 5,036 | 4,859 | 3.6% | 177 |
| 94 | Milton | 5,706 | 5,515 | 3.5% | 191 |
| 95 | Stoughton | 13,033 | 12,599 | 3.4% | 434 |
| 96 | Shawano | 9,522 | 9,216 | 3.3% | 306 |
| 97 | Appleton | 75,023 | 72,620 | 3.3% | 2,403 |
| 98 | Greenfield | 37,345 | 36,214 | 3.1% | 1,131 |
| 99 | Delafield | 7,202 | 6,987 | 3.1% | 215 |
| 100 | Menomonie | 16,539 | 16,061 | 3.0% | 478 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS, 2010-current. 145 Wisconsin cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: These Places Grew Up So Fast In Wisconsin, You Know?
So there you have it, the fastest growing cities in Wisconsin are led by Bristol which has been growing at a blistering pace this decade relative to other cities and towns around the state.
The fastest-growing cities in Wisconsin are Bristol, Hobart, Verona, Cottage Grove, Waunakee, Sun Prairie, Holmen, Fitchburg, Altoona, and DeForest.
It’ll be interesting to see if these places can keep growing at the same rate over the next couple of years. We’ll be here to let you know! Not sold on Wisconsin? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Fastest Growing Cities In Wisconsin FAQs
What is the fastest-growing city in Wisconsin?
Bristol is the fastest-growing city in Wisconsin for 2026, based on population change since 2010. Hobart and Verona are growing nearly as fast.
What are the top 10 fastest-growing cities in Wisconsin?
The fastest-growing cities in Wisconsin are Bristol, Hobart, Verona, Cottage Grove, Waunakee, Sun Prairie, Holmen, Fitchburg, Altoona, and DeForest. We ranked all 145 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
How do you measure growth?
Growth is the percent change in population from the 2010 Census to the latest American Community Survey estimates. No projections, no vibes — just how many more people actually live there now.
What is the slowest-growing city on the list?
Prairie du Chien posts the smallest population change of the 145 Wisconsin cities we ranked. Slow growth is not automatically bad news, but the momentum is clearly elsewhere.
Do small towns count in this ranking?
Only places with more than 5,000 residents qualify, which keeps one new subdivision from turning a tiny town into a statistical rocket. 145 Wisconsin cities cleared that bar this year.
