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 $106,076, 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 2026
What is the richest county in Wisconsin? The richest county in Wisconsin is Waukesha County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Price 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 2026
1. Waukesha County
Biggest Place: Waukesha
Population: 411,762
Median Income: $106,076 (highest)
Median Home Price: $494,694 (highest)
More on Waukesha County: Data
2. Ozaukee County
Biggest Place: Mequon
Population: 92,966
Median Income: $96,996 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $494,293 (2nd highest)
More on Ozaukee County: Data
3. St. Croix County
Biggest Place: River Falls
Population: 96,033
Median Income: $103,046 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $467,938 (3rd highest)
More on St. Croix County: Data
4. Dane County
Biggest Place: Madison
Population: 572,674
Median Income: $89,975 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $465,319 (4th highest)
More on Dane County: Data
5. Washington County
Biggest Place: Milwaukee
Population: 137,879
Median Income: $96,359 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $423,202 (6th highest)
More on Washington County: Data
6. Pierce County
Biggest Place: River Falls
Population: 42,584
Median Income: $92,109 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $361,588 (10th highest)
More on Pierce County: Data
7. Calumet County
Biggest Place: Appleton
Population: 52,942
Median Income: $88,810 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $370,910 (9th highest)
More on Calumet County: Data
8. Columbia County
Biggest Place: Portage
Population: 58,272
Median Income: $85,351 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $351,612 (12th highest)
More on Columbia County: Data
9. Jefferson County
Biggest Place: Watertown
Population: 86,003
Median Income: $83,750 (10th highest)
Median Home Price: $359,898 (11th highest)
More on Jefferson County: Data
10. Walworth County
Biggest Place: Whitewater
Population: 105,657
Median Income: $80,520 (15th highest)
Median Home Price: $404,316 (7th highest)
More on Walworth County: Data
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 2026. 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 2026
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, Jefferson County, and Walworth 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:
- Price County
- Rusk County
- Langlade County
For more Wisconsin reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Wisconsin
- Safest Places In Wisconsin
- Best Counties To Live In Wisconsin
- Richest Cities In Wisconsin
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In Wisconsin
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waukesha County | 411,762 | $106,076 | $494,694 |
| 2 | Ozaukee County | 92,966 | $96,996 | $494,293 |
| 3 | St. Croix County | 96,033 | $103,046 | $467,938 |
| 4 | Dane County | 572,674 | $89,975 | $465,319 |
| 5 | Washington County | 137,879 | $96,359 | $423,202 |
| 6 | Pierce County | 42,584 | $92,109 | $361,588 |
| 7 | Calumet County | 52,942 | $88,810 | $370,910 |
| 8 | Columbia County | 58,272 | $85,351 | $351,612 |
| 9 | Jefferson County | 86,003 | $83,750 | $359,898 |
| 10 | Walworth County | 105,657 | $80,520 | $404,316 |
| 11 | Outagamie County | 192,826 | $85,069 | $337,445 |
| 12 | Iowa County | 23,867 | $82,182 | $335,141 |
| 13 | Brown County | 270,892 | $79,649 | $348,015 |
| 14 | Green County | 37,017 | $82,852 | $327,447 |
| 15 | Sauk County | 66,009 | $79,541 | $330,476 |
| 16 | Kenosha County | 168,438 | $81,239 | $323,633 |
| 17 | Door County | 30,445 | $74,795 | $424,674 |
| 18 | Polk County | 45,555 | $77,219 | $328,021 |
| 19 | Kewaunee County | 20,664 | $82,725 | $312,592 |
| 20 | Dodge County | 88,742 | $75,929 | $315,129 |
| 21 | Racine County | 197,532 | $78,096 | $304,766 |
| 22 | Portage County | 70,832 | $76,070 | $314,196 |
| 23 | Vilas County | 23,647 | $68,431 | $389,396 |
| 24 | La Crosse County | 120,488 | $73,013 | $326,199 |
| 25 | Eau Claire County | 107,116 | $74,546 | $314,564 |
| 26 | Sheboygan County | 117,991 | $73,094 | $315,782 |
| 27 | Chippewa County | 66,799 | $74,680 | $314,130 |
| 28 | Dunn County | 45,527 | $74,824 | $306,489 |
| 29 | Oconto County | 39,589 | $75,049 | $300,349 |
| 30 | Rock County | 164,350 | $75,673 | $286,956 |
| 31 | Winnebago County | 171,769 | $74,925 | $297,134 |
| 32 | Marathon County | 138,403 | $77,884 | $270,800 |
| 33 | Trempealeau County | 30,839 | $76,313 | $271,969 |
| 34 | Pepin County | 7,431 | $75,256 | $278,228 |
| 35 | Oneida County | 38,167 | $69,371 | $311,080 |
| 36 | Bayfield County | 16,575 | $71,151 | $294,111 |
| 37 | Fond Du Lac County | 104,137 | $74,275 | $282,904 |
| 38 | Waupaca County | 51,569 | $72,830 | $280,716 |
| 39 | Lafayette County | 16,942 | $76,462 | $233,378 |
| 40 | Douglas County | 44,229 | $75,099 | $249,938 |
| 41 | Green Lake County | 19,263 | $68,196 | $286,241 |
| 42 | Sawyer County | 18,476 | $60,801 | $326,862 |
| 43 | Vernon County | 31,049 | $71,893 | $256,887 |
| 44 | Washburn County | 16,854 | $63,441 | $303,499 |
| 45 | Monroe County | 46,208 | $69,467 | $254,612 |
| 46 | Buffalo County | 13,393 | $70,479 | $247,941 |
| 47 | Manitowoc County | 81,406 | $69,148 | $255,268 |
| 48 | Waushara County | 24,868 | $67,107 | $274,993 |
| 49 | Menominee County | 4,252 | $62,108 | $299,211 |
| 50 | Milwaukee County | 926,331 | $64,435 | $283,166 |
| 51 | Burnett County | 16,916 | $62,819 | $290,649 |
| 52 | Barron County | 46,797 | $65,933 | $278,689 |
| 53 | Shawano County | 41,039 | $66,479 | $271,642 |
| 54 | Juneau County | 26,689 | $67,270 | $255,309 |
| 55 | Richland County | 17,205 | $66,420 | $267,992 |
| 56 | Taylor County | 20,024 | $69,350 | $226,316 |
| 57 | Lincoln County | 28,426 | $68,164 | $237,321 |
| 58 | Marquette County | 15,746 | $65,681 | $263,564 |
| 59 | Jackson County | 20,981 | $68,110 | $226,145 |
| 60 | Wood County | 74,004 | $67,989 | $223,019 |
| 61 | Clark County | 34,739 | $67,400 | $217,631 |
| 62 | Grant County | 51,770 | $66,858 | $222,303 |
| 63 | Crawford County | 16,042 | $64,094 | $230,022 |
| 64 | Adams County | 21,123 | $59,442 | $246,818 |
| 65 | Marinette County | 42,046 | $63,809 | $210,150 |
| 66 | Forest County | 9,369 | $61,071 | $215,025 |
| 67 | Iron County | 6,210 | $60,625 | $210,259 |
| 68 | Ashland County | 16,080 | $62,462 | $186,084 |
| 69 | Florence County | 4,646 | $61,086 | $198,944 |
| 70 | Langlade County | 19,490 | $55,878 | $215,146 |
| 71 | Rusk County | 14,179 | $59,944 | $204,725 |
| 72 | Price County | 14,092 | $60,546 | $200,456 |