Best counties to live in Wisconsin
- Overall Rank: 1,133
- Population: 37,066
- Median household income: $76,080
- Median home value: $217,000 (75% own)
- Median rent: $820 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: New Glarus Elementary School (grade A minus), New Glarus Middle School (grade B+), Juda High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Victor School (grade unavailable), Pleasant View Mennonite School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Brooklyn (grade A minus), Monroe (grade B+), Brodhead (grade C+)
- Overall Rank: 1,075
- Population: 37,799
- Median household income: $66,111
- Median home value: $214,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $876 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Elementary School (grade A minus), Lakeland High School (grade B+), Creative Minds (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Nativity of Our Lord School (grade unavailable), Zion Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Trinity Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Rhinelander (grade B+), Woodruff (grade A), Minocqua (grade A minus)
- Overall Rank: 1,015
- Population: 23,766
- Median household income: $79,226
- Median home value: $231,300 (78% own)
- Median rent: $911 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Barneveld Elementary School (grade A), Mineral Point Middle School (grade A minus), Mineral Point Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Joseph Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Dodgeville (grade B+), Barneveld (grade A minus), Mineral Point (grade A minus)
- Overall Rank: 898
- Population: 163,817
- Median household income: $70,630
- Median home value: $193,000 (70% own)
- Median rent: $981 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Roosevelt Elementary School (grade A minus), Monroe Elementary School (grade A minus), Harmony Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Rock County Christian School - Janesville (grade B+), Oakhill Christian School (grade B), Rock County Christian School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Milton (grade A minus), Evansville (grade A minus), Edgerton (grade B+)
- Overall Rank: 884
- Population: 85,932
- Median household income: $77,018
- Median home value: $238,300 (73% own)
- Median rent: $981 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Webster Elementary School (grade A minus), Lake Mills High School (grade B+), Ixonia Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Luther Preparatory School (grade A minus), Lakeside Lutheran High School (grade B), Maranatha Baptist Academy (grade B)
- Top places: Lake Ripley (grade A), Lake Mills (grade A minus), Fort Atkinson (grade A minus)
- Overall Rank: 815
- Population: 81,242
- Median household income: $66,412
- Median home value: $160,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $747 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Mishicot Middle School (grade A minus), Cleveland Elementary School (grade A minus), Kiel Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Roncalli High School (grade B+), Manitowoc Lutheran High School (grade B+), Roncalli Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Manitowoc (grade B+), Kiel (grade B), Two Rivers (grade B)
- Overall Rank: 773
- Population: 18,057
- Median household income: $57,519
- Median home value: $210,700 (76% own)
- Median rent: $670 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Winter High School (grade B), Hayward Intermediate School (grade B), Hayward High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Northern Lights Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Northwoods Mennonite School (grade unavailable), St. Francis Solanus School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Hayward (grade B), Bass Lake (grade B+), Spider Lake (grade B+)
- Overall Rank: 764
- Population: 42,187
- Median household income: $82,996
- Median home value: $278,700 (74% own)
- Median rent: $999 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Greenwood Elementary School (grade A minus), Elmwood Elementary School (grade A minus), Malone Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Joseph Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. Francis School (grade unavailable), Ave Maria Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Prescott (grade B), Ellsworth (grade B), Clifton (grade B+)
- Overall Rank: 719
- Population: 45,221
- Median household income: $69,721
- Median home value: $212,000 (66% own)
- Median rent: $908 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Menomonie High School (grade A minus), Menomonie Middle School (grade B+), Wakanda Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Joseph School (grade unavailable), University of Wisconsin - Stout, Child and Family Study Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Tainter Lake (grade A minus), Menomonie (grade A minus), Downsville (grade A)
- Overall Rank: 707
- Population: 105,127
- Median household income: $75,172
- Median home value: $254,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,034 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Reek Elementary School (grade A), Woods Elementary School (grade A), Tibbets Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Faith Christian School (grade B minus), St. Andrew Parish School (grade unavailable), St. Francis de Sales School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Lake Geneva (grade A minus), Williams Bay (grade A minus), Elkhorn (grade B+)
- Overall Rank: 666
- Population: 23,146
- Median household income: $63,726
- Median home value: $255,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $766 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: North Lakeland Elementary School (grade A), Northland Pines Elementary - Land O' Lakes (grade A minus), Northland Pines Elementary - St. Germain (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Christ Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Arbor Vitae (grade A minus), Presque Isle (grade B+), Boulder Junction (grade B+)
- Overall Rank: 633
- Population: 137,820
- Median household income: $73,248
- Median home value: $194,500 (73% own)
- Median rent: $898 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Riverside Elementary School (grade A), Odyssey Elementary School (grade A), West High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Newman Catholic Middle and High School (grade A minus), Northland Lutheran High School (grade B), Abbotsford Christian Academy (grade B)
- Top places: Wausau (grade A minus), Rothschild (grade A minus), Maine (grade A minus)
- Overall Rank: 576
- Population: 197,068
- Median household income: $72,658
- Median home value: $226,500 (70% own)
- Median rent: $985 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Lakeview Elementary School (grade A+), Kansasville Elementary School (grade A), Yorkville Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Prairie School (grade A+), Racine Lutheran High School (grade A minus), Catholic Central High School (grade B+)
- Top places: Wind Point (grade A+), Union Grove (grade A), Mount Pleasant (grade A minus)
- Overall Rank: 523
- Population: 933,063
- Median household income: $59,319
- Median home value: $200,000 (49% own)
- Median rent: $1,012 (51% rent)
- Top public schools: Shorewood High School (grade A+), Wisconsin Hills Middle School (grade A+), Whitefish Bay High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)
- Top places: Whitefish Bay (grade A+), Shorewood (grade A+), Bayside (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 492
- Population: 16,214
- Median household income: $67,266
- Median home value: $214,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $828 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: South Shore Elementary School (grade A), South Shore Junior/Senior High School (grade A minus), Washburn High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Bell (grade A), Washburn Town (grade A), Bayview (grade A)
- Overall Rank: 461
- Population: 168,693
- Median household income: $76,583
- Median home value: $234,700 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,110 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Brighton Elementary School (grade A+), Lakeview Technology Academy (grade A), Riverview Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Shoreland Lutheran High School (grade A minus), St. Joseph Catholic Academy (grade A minus), Christian Life School (grade B+)
- Top places: Pleasant Prairie (grade B+), Bristol (grade B+), Kenosha (grade B+)
- Overall Rank: 456
- Population: 52,361
- Median household income: $84,151
- Median home value: $234,000 (81% own)
- Median rent: $948 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Woodland Intermediate School (grade A), Woodland Elementary School (grade A), Sunrise Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Mt. Cavalry Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Chilton Area Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Sherwood (grade A), Chilton (grade B+), Brillion (grade B)
- Overall Rank: 416
- Population: 117,741
- Median household income: $68,969
- Median home value: $198,900 (72% own)
- Median rent: $863 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Kohler Elementary School (grade A), Kohler Middle School (grade A), Oostburg Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Sheboygan Christian School (grade B+), Sheboygan Lutheran High School (grade B), St. John Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Kohler (grade A+), Sheboygan (grade A minus), Oostburg (grade A minus)
- Overall Rank: 399
- Population: 190,611
- Median household income: $78,705
- Median home value: $224,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $941 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: J.R. Gerritts Middle School (grade A), Mapleview Intermediate School (grade A), Janssen Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Xavier Catholic Schools (grade A), Fox Valley Lutheran High School (grade B), Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Appleton (grade A), Kimberly (grade A), Combined Locks (grade A)
- Overall Rank: 378
- Population: 136,842
- Median household income: $91,915
- Median home value: $293,300 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,073 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Slinger Elementary School (grade A), Addison Elementary School (grade A), Slinger Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Living Word Lutheran High School (grade A minus), Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School (grade B), St. Augustine School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Germantown (grade A), Slinger (grade A), Richfield (grade A minus)
- Overall Rank: 373
- Population: 171,197
- Median household income: $70,041
- Median home value: $190,600 (66% own)
- Median rent: $880 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Winneconne Middle School (grade A), Lakeview Elementary School (grade A minus), Horace Mann Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mary Catholic High School (grade A minus), Lourdes Academy (grade A minus), Valley Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places: Winneconne (grade A), Neenah (grade A), Oshkosh (grade A minus)
- Overall Rank: 370
- Population: 30,038
- Median household income: $68,257
- Median home value: $273,300 (81% own)
- Median rent: $949 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Sevastopol Middle School (grade A), Gibraltar High School (grade A), Gibraltar Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. John Bosco Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. Peter's Lutheran School (grade unavailable), Zion Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Sturgeon Bay (grade B+), Ellison Bay (grade A), Ephraim (grade A)
- Overall Rank: 355
- Population: 93,752
- Median household income: $97,950
- Median home value: $323,900 (79% own)
- Median rent: $1,127 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Houlton Elementary School (grade A), North Hudson Elementary School (grade A), River Crest Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Trinity Academy (grade unavailable), St. Patrick School (grade unavailable), St. Mary's School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: North Hudson (grade A), River Falls (grade A), Hudson (grade A)
- Overall Rank: 341
- Population: 70,281
- Median household income: $71,301
- Median home value: $214,700 (70% own)
- Median rent: $876 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Bannach Elementary School (grade A minus), McDill Elementary School (grade B+), Kennedy Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Pacelli Catholic High School (grade A minus), Stevens Point Christian Academy (grade C minus), Pacelli Catholic Schools - Tim Copps Early Childhood Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Plover (grade A), Stevens Point (grade A), Whiting (grade A minus)
- Overall Rank: 313
- Population: 120,216
- Median household income: $68,731
- Median home value: $226,600 (62% own)
- Median rent: $984 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: School of Technology and Arts I (grade A minus), Eagle Bluff Elementary School (grade A minus), Onalaska High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Providence Academy (grade A minus), Aquinas High School (grade A minus), Luther High School (grade B+)
- Top places: Onalaska (grade A), West Salem (grade A minus), La Crosse (grade B+)
- Overall Rank: 228
- Population: 268,393
- Median household income: $74,066
- Median home value: $226,500 (65% own)
- Median rent: $935 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Susie C. Altmayer Elementary School (grade A), Wrightstown Middle School (grade A), West De Pere High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Notre Dame de la Baie Academy (grade A minus), Northeastern Wisconsin Lutheran High School (grade B+), Providence Academy (grade B)
- Top places: Hobart (grade A), De Pere (grade A), Allouez (grade A)
- Overall Rank: 216
- Population: 105,697
- Median household income: $70,127
- Median home value: $226,400 (64% own)
- Median rent: $929 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Memorial High School (grade A), Altoona Middle School (grade A minus), North High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Bethel Christian School (grade A minus), Regis High School (grade B), Immanuel Lutheran High School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Eau Claire (grade A), Altoona (grade A), Washington (grade A)
- Overall Rank: 85
- Population: 559,891
- Median household income: $84,297
- Median home value: $342,900 (58% own)
- Median rent: $1,268 (42% rent)
- Top public schools: Pope Farm Elementary School (grade A+), Middleton High School (grade A+), Memorial High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Madison Country Day School (grade A+), Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart (grade A+), Abundant Life Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Middleton (grade A+), Shorewood Hills (grade A+), Madison (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 42
- Population: 407,290
- Median household income: $101,639
- Median home value: $352,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,235 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Brookfield East High School (grade A+), Brookfield Central High School (grade A+), Brookfield Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)
- Top places: Elm Grove (grade A+), Brookfield (grade A+), Nashotah (grade A+)
- Overall Rank: 27
- Population: 91,745
- Median household income: $92,258
- Median home value: $344,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,103 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Lake Shore Middle School (grade A+), Donges Bay Elementary School (grade A+), Parkview Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: First Immanuel Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Francis Borgia School (grade unavailable), Lumen Christi Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Mequon (grade A+), Thiensville (grade A+), Cedarburg (grade A+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.