Best small towns to live in Wisconsin

1. 1
   Mineral Point, WI Score 78/100

   2,559 people · typical home $212k · household income $81k · 62 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 26% of WI · 1.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   Benton, WI Score 77/100

   1,054 people · typical home $157k · household income $81k · 59 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of WI · 3.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Cuba City, WI Score 75/100

   2,007 people · typical home $189k · household income $75k · 81 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 30% of WI · 1.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Fennimore, WI Score 75/100

   2,752 people · typical home $161k · household income $62k · 55 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 33% of WI · 2.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Kiel, WI Score 74/100

   3,943 people · typical home $192k · household income $76k · 58 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 37% of WI · 2.0% unemployment · 11 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Gillett, WI Score 73/100

   1,209 people · typical home $118k · household income $55k · 73 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 20% of WI · 4.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Woodville, WI Score 72/100

   1,424 people · typical home $220k · household income $80k · 65 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 23% of WI · 2.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Brillion, WI Score 71/100

   3,299 people · typical home $199k · household income $58k · 47 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 20% of WI · 0.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Darlington, WI Score 71/100

   2,409 people · typical home $155k · household income $57k · 59 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 27% of WI · 7.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Weyauwega, WI Score 70/100

    1,789 people · typical home $152k · household income $67k · 74 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 39% of WI · 1.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    New Holstein, WI Score 70/100

    3,075 people · typical home $179k · household income $60k · 59 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 37% of WI · 1.0% unemployment · 7 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Redgranite, WI Score 69/100

    1,938 people · typical home $104k · household income $64k · 28 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 59% of WI · 3.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    New Richmond, WI Score 69/100

    10,539 people · typical home $285k · household income $88k · 56 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 19% of WI · 3.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Grafton, WI Score 68/100

    12,445 people · typical home $329k · household income $90k · 64 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 5% of WI · 2.0% unemployment · 1 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Westby, WI Score 67/100

    2,432 people · typical home $174k · household income $73k · 77 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 31% of WI · 3.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Peshtigo, WI Score 67/100

    3,398 people · typical home $140k · household income $67k · 91 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 65% of WI · 1.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    New London, WI Score 66/100

    7,726 people · typical home $175k · household income $61k · 15 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 49% of WI · 3.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Washburn, WI Score 66/100

    1,884 people · typical home $179k · household income $62k · 54 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 39% of WI · 3.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    Mishicot, WI Score 66/100

    1,450 people · typical home $144k · household income $65k · 123 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 40% of WI · 2.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    Dresser, WI Score 66/100

    1,028 people · typical home $196k · household income $80k · 86 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 16% of WI · 5.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    Bloomfield, WI Score 65/100

    4,780 people · typical home $236k · household income $98k · 33 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 54% of WI · 4.0% unemployment · 5 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Trempealeau, WI Score 65/100

    1,864 people · typical home $216k · household income $79k · 62 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 41% of WI · 2.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    Spencer, WI Score 65/100

    1,686 people · typical home $155k · household income $70k · 118 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 45% of WI · 1.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    Kewaskum, WI Score 65/100

    4,461 people · typical home $289k · household income $94k · 55 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 11% of WI · 6.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Mondovi, WI Score 64/100

    2,872 people · typical home $175k · household income $54k · 45 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 35% of WI · 3.0% unemployment · 13 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Wisconsin with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Wisconsin on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Wisconsin districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

All places in Wisconsin →