This article, the twentieth in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Wisconsin based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, “places” are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.
Among the twenty best places to live in Wisconsin, twelve are suburbs of Milwaukee, four are suburbs of Minneapolis, two are suburbs of Madison, and two are suburbs of Green Bay. By county, six of the best places to live in Wisconsin are located in Waukesha County, four in or partially in Ozaukee County, three in St. Croix County, three in or partially in Milwaukee County, two in Dane County, and one each in Brown, Pierce, and Winnebago Counties.
After reading “Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012),” return to this link to read “Largest Cities in Wisconsin (2012).” A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
For the culmination of the 50-state series, read “Best Places to Live in America (2012).”
This article may be updated when new data becomes available.
1. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Whitefish Bay, WI (Milwaukee County)
Population: 13,683
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $106,076
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 76.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.04
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 7 miles S
Madison, WI: 84 miles W
Green Bay, WI: 110 miles NNW
2. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Fox Point, WI (Milwaukee County)
Population: 6,844
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $98,425
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 69.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.47
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 11 miles S
Madison, WI: 87 miles W
Green Bay, WI: 104 miles N
3. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Elm Grove, WI (Waukesha County)
Population: 5,998
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $99,022
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 66.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.96
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 10 miles E
Madison, WI: 70 miles W
Green Bay, WI: 123 miles N
4. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Mequon, WI (Ozaukee County)
Population: 23,322
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $101,466
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 60.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.56
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 18 miles SSE
Madison, WI: 90 miles WSW
Green Bay, WI: 103 miles NNW
5. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Middleton (town), WI (Dane County)
Population: 5,589
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $111,224
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 56.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.24
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 93 miles E
Madison, WI: 6 miles ESE
Green Bay, WI: 150 miles NNE
6. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Bayside, WI (Milwaukee and Ozaukee County)
Population: 4,385
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $80,281
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 63.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.68
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 13 miles S
Madison, WI: 89 miles WSW
Green Bay, WI: 105 miles N
7. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Delafield (town), WI (Waukesha County)
Population: 8,393
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $104,960
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 49.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.03
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 27 miles E
Madison, WI: 53 miles W
Green Bay, WI: 129 miles N
8. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Algoma, WI Winnebago County)
Population: 6,287
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $103,022
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 46.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.29
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 90 miles SSE
Madison, WI: 88 miles SSW
Green Bay, WI: 53 miles NE
9. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Cedarburg, WI (Ozaukee County)
Population: 5,706
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $94,621
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 46.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.45
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 23 miles S
Madison, WI: 82 miles WSW
Green Bay, WI: 98 miles N
10. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Troy, WI (St. Croix County)
Population: 4,499
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $81,539
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 52.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.09
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Minneapolis, MN: 34 miles W
Madison, WI: 244 miles SE
11. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – St. Joseph, WI (St. Croix County)
Population: 3,768
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $89,364
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 43.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.00
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Minneapolis, MN: 33 miles WSW
Madison, WI: 121 miles SE
12. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Brookfield (city), WI (Waukesha County)
Population: 39,166
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $84,360
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 52.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.97
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 12 miles E
Madison, WI: 71 miles W
Green Bay, WI: 125 miles N
13. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Pewaukee, WI (Waukesha County)
Population: 12,402
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $88,430
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 45.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.43
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 20 miles E
Madison, WI: 63 miles W
Green Bay, WI: 126 miles N
14. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Verona (city), WI (Dane County)
Population: 10,609
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $80,232
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 49.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.49
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 91 miles E
Madison, WI: 11 miles NE
Green Bay, WI: 150 miles NNE
15. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Summit, WI (Waukesha County)
Population: 5,083
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $92,915
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 40.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.99
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 33 miles E
Madison, WI: 51 miles W
Green Bay, WI: 132 miles N
16. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Clifton, WI (Pierce County)
Population: 2,283
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $97,336
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 36.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.28*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Minneapolis, MN: 40 miles NW
Madison, WI: 239 miles SE
17. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Merton, WI (Waukesha County)
Population: 8,270
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $90,616
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 42.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.51*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 27 miles ESE
Madison, WI: 64 miles W
Green Bay, WI: 111 miles N
18. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Hudson, WI (St. Croix County)
Population: 8,018
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $95,329
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 50.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 7.13
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Minneapolis, MN: 27 miles W
Madison, WI: 243 miles SE
19. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Ledgeview, WI (Brown County)
Population: 6,100
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $78,071
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 43.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.13*
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 111 miles S
Madison, WI: 137 miles SSW
Green Bay, WI: 8 miles NNW
20. Best Places to Live in Wisconsin (2012) – Grafton, WI (Ozaukee County)
Population: 3,949
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $82,160
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 39.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.6
Distance to Familiar Cities:
Milwaukee, WI: 23 miles S
Madison, WI: 83 miles WSW
Green Bay, WI: 95 miles N
*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with a county law enforcement agency or the state police. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from state, county, or contiguous municipality data.
Source(s):
“All Cities in Wisconsin,” City-Data.com
” American Community Survey ,” U.S. Census Bureau
” American Fact Finder ,” U.S. Census Bureau
“Uniform Crime Reports,” Federal Bureau of Investigation
