You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in Wisconsin.
The median household income in Waukesha County, the richest county in Wisconsin is $104,100, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 72 counties in the Badger State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In Wisconsin For 2025
- Waukesha County
- Ozaukee County
- St. Croix County
- Dane County
- Washington County
- Pierce County
- Calumet County
- Columbia County
- Iowa County
- Jefferson County
What is the richest county in Wisconsin? The richest county in Wisconsin is Waukesha County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Langlade County, according to the Census 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.
The Richest Counties In Wisconsin For 2025
1. Waukesha County
Biggest Place: Waukesha
Population: 409,040
Median Income: $104,100 (highest)
Median Home Price: $373,600 (highest)
More on Waukesha County:
2. Ozaukee County
Biggest Place: Mequon
Population: 92,345
Median Income: $96,734 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $368,900 (2nd highest)
More on Ozaukee County:
3. St. Croix County
Biggest Place: River Falls
Population: 94,819
Median Income: $102,482 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $349,700 (4th highest)
More on St. Croix County:
4. Dane County
Biggest Place: Madison
Population: 564,777
Median Income: $88,108 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $366,100 (3rd highest)
More on Dane County:
5. Washington County
Biggest Place: Milwaukee
Population: 137,320
Median Income: $95,851 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $316,200 (5th highest)
More on Washington County:
6. Pierce County
Biggest Place: River Falls
Population: 42,351
Median Income: $88,802 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $308,600 (6th highest)
More on Pierce County:
7. Calumet County
Biggest Place: Appleton
Population: 52,626
Median Income: $87,700 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $252,100 (12th highest)
More on Calumet County:
8. Columbia County
Biggest Place: Portage
Population: 58,322
Median Income: $82,792 (10th highest)
Median Home Price: $258,700 (10th highest)
More on Columbia County:
9. Iowa County
Biggest Place: Dodgeville
Population: 23,832
Median Income: $83,372 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $248,100 (13th highest)
More on Iowa County:
10. Jefferson County
Biggest Place: Watertown
Population: 85,867
Median Income: $80,604 (11th highest)
Median Home Price: $253,800 (11th highest)
More on Jefferson County:
Methodology: How do you determine which Wisconsin county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in Wisconsin, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. 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 the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in Wisconsin for each of the criteria from one to 72, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In Wisconsin.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Badger State.
We updated this article for 2025. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in Wisconsin. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In Wisconsin For 2025
Living in Wisconsin can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in Wisconsin are Waukesha County, Ozaukee County, St. Croix County, Dane County, Washington County, Pierce County, Calumet County, Columbia County, Iowa County, and Jefferson County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in Wisconsin according to the data:
- Langlade County
- Rusk County
- Price County
For more Wisconsin reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Wisconsin
- Best Counties To Live In Wisconsin
- Richest Cities In Wisconsin
- Cheapest Places To Live In Wisconsin
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In Wisconsin
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waukesha County | 409,040 | $104,100 | $373,600 |
| 2 | Ozaukee County | 92,345 | $96,734 | $368,900 |
| 3 | St. Croix County | 94,819 | $102,482 | $349,700 |
| 4 | Dane County | 564,777 | $88,108 | $366,100 |
| 5 | Washington County | 137,320 | $95,851 | $316,200 |
| 6 | Pierce County | 42,351 | $88,802 | $308,600 |
| 7 | Calumet County | 52,626 | $87,700 | $252,100 |
| 8 | Columbia County | 58,322 | $82,792 | $258,700 |
| 9 | Iowa County | 23,832 | $83,372 | $248,100 |
| 10 | Jefferson County | 85,867 | $80,604 | $253,800 |
| 11 | Walworth County | 105,447 | $77,359 | $275,900 |
| 12 | Outagamie County | 191,537 | $82,857 | $244,100 |
| 13 | Kenosha County | 168,413 | $79,412 | $247,800 |
| 14 | Brown County | 269,425 | $77,490 | $245,900 |
| 15 | Sauk County | 65,759 | $77,648 | $242,400 |
| 16 | Green County | 37,036 | $80,248 | $236,900 |
| 17 | Polk County | 45,327 | $76,208 | $241,200 |
| 18 | Door County | 30,279 | $71,785 | $305,800 |
| 19 | Racine County | 196,888 | $75,331 | $239,400 |
| 20 | Chippewa County | 66,558 | $74,009 | $237,700 |
| 21 | Kewaunee County | 20,621 | $80,085 | $208,900 |
| 22 | Portage County | 70,375 | $73,284 | $230,400 |
| 23 | Eau Claire County | 106,328 | $71,834 | $242,400 |
| 24 | Oconto County | 39,329 | $75,886 | $212,000 |
| 25 | La Crosse County | 120,262 | $70,704 | $243,200 |
| 26 | Vilas County | 23,410 | $67,132 | $270,700 |
| 27 | Dodge County | 88,818 | $73,992 | $218,400 |
| 28 | Rock County | 163,944 | $74,390 | $215,900 |
| 29 | Marathon County | 138,067 | $76,185 | $205,500 |
| 30 | Dunn County | 45,349 | $71,785 | $226,200 |
| 31 | Sheboygan County | 117,783 | $71,898 | $218,400 |
| 32 | Fond Du Lac County | 104,053 | $73,154 | $209,800 |
| 33 | Oneida County | 38,007 | $69,621 | $227,500 |
| 34 | Bayfield County | 16,410 | $69,609 | $228,100 |
| 35 | Winnebago County | 171,357 | $72,873 | $208,600 |
| 36 | Pepin County | 7,372 | $74,536 | $196,100 |
| 37 | Vernon County | 30,915 | $69,556 | $210,600 |
| 38 | Trempealeau County | 30,786 | $71,295 | $203,300 |
| 39 | Douglas County | 44,197 | $72,579 | $190,400 |
| 40 | Waupaca County | 51,714 | $71,189 | $192,800 |
| 41 | Lafayette County | 16,788 | $72,091 | $182,100 |
| 42 | Buffalo County | 13,341 | $68,722 | $197,600 |
| 43 | Green Lake County | 19,165 | $66,917 | $206,300 |
| 44 | Monroe County | 46,169 | $68,213 | $197,200 |
| 45 | Milwaukee County | 927,656 | $62,118 | $216,500 |
| 46 | Burnett County | 16,741 | $61,664 | $215,500 |
| 47 | Sawyer County | 18,243 | $59,055 | $223,300 |
| 48 | Barron County | 46,741 | $64,619 | $198,300 |
| 49 | Marquette County | 15,706 | $63,471 | $201,100 |
| 50 | Jackson County | 20,971 | $65,508 | $186,900 |
| 51 | Lincoln County | 28,403 | $67,726 | $177,700 |
| 52 | Washburn County | 16,749 | $61,270 | $207,900 |
| 53 | Manitowoc County | 81,314 | $68,611 | $172,900 |
| 54 | Shawano County | 40,927 | $67,032 | $179,100 |
| 55 | Waushara County | 24,752 | $64,968 | $186,000 |
| 56 | Grant County | 51,678 | $64,349 | $186,300 |
| 57 | Taylor County | 19,972 | $63,142 | $186,500 |
| 58 | Wood County | 74,039 | $66,417 | $168,100 |
| 59 | Crawford County | 16,064 | $63,496 | $175,100 |
| 60 | Clark County | 34,736 | $66,250 | $163,800 |
| 61 | Richland County | 17,229 | $62,649 | $182,800 |
| 62 | Juneau County | 26,695 | $65,150 | $165,200 |
| 63 | Adams County | 20,928 | $59,153 | $184,500 |
| 64 | Florence County | 4,617 | $62,786 | $170,000 |
| 65 | Marinette County | 41,907 | $63,401 | $154,600 |
| 66 | Forest County | 9,261 | $59,727 | $170,000 |
| 67 | Iron County | 6,164 | $59,058 | $155,200 |
| 68 | Menominee County | 4,256 | $59,528 | $97,000 |
| 69 | Ashland County | 16,050 | $57,645 | $160,500 |
| 70 | Price County | 14,077 | $58,720 | $146,000 |
| 71 | Rusk County | 14,146 | $58,322 | $152,000 |
| 72 | Langlade County | 19,473 | $57,258 | $145,800 |