Wisconsin Living Report — July 21, 2026

For many, the idea of Wisconsin conjures images of cheese, football, and brutal winters. But beneath that familiar surface lies a state that is quietly becoming a compelling option for a wide range of new residents. With a population of 5,882,128, the Badger State is big enough to have vibrant cities but small enough to avoid the extreme congestion of the coasts. The question for anyone considering a move is not just what the weather is like, but whether the numbers actually work.

The financial picture is surprisingly strong. The median household income sits at $72,458 per year, which comfortably outpaces the national median. When you run the affordability analysis on housing, the state looks even more attractive. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $992 per month. That works out to roughly 16.4 percent of the

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Browse utility costs, housing data, Census demographics, and climate data for all 1 tracked cities in Wisconsin.

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Data: US Census Bureau ACS 2022, BLS. Updated July 21, 2026.

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