Best Counties in Wisconsin — 2026 Rankings
72 of 72 counties scored across 12 dimensions
72
72 scored
50/100
composite score
65.4/100
24.7—65.4
lowest to highest
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Sits Slightly Above the National Median
Wisconsin earns a composite score of 50.3, placing it just ahead of the national median of 50.0. All 72 counties contribute to this balanced profile, reflecting a state that stays competitive on the national stage.
High Health and Income Scores Lead the Way
Wisconsin excels in public health with a standout score of 74.1, its highest dimension by far. The state also maintains a strong income score of 65.5, indicating robust earning potential for its residents.
High Tax Burdens Weigh Down Affordability
A low tax score of 17.6 serves as the primary anchor on Wisconsin’s ranking, signaling a high tax load relative to other states. This financial pressure is joined by a modest risk score of 40.9 and a cost score of 40.2.
Northern Counties Dominate the Leaderboard
Iron County leads the state with a 65.4 composite score, powered by a high affordability rating of 78.6. Vilas and Door counties follow closely at 65.2 and 61.5, offering superior tax and income balances compared to urban hubs like Milwaukee.
A Health-First Haven for High Earners
Wisconsin is an excellent fit for families who prioritize health outcomes and strong wages over low taxation. The state rewards those who look toward its top-performing northern counties, where affordability and livability peak.
All County Rankings in Wisconsin
Search, sort, and filter all 72 ranked counties
Showing 1–25 of 72 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iron County | 65.4 | 28.4 | 78.6 | 35.9 | 77.5 | 85.2 | 65 | 88.5 | 19.1 | 49.2 | 66 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Vilas County | 65.2 | 53.2 | 51.3 | 59.4 | 86.8 | 62.4 | 91.3 | 36.7 | 20.6 | 49 | 51.1 | 48.4 | |
| 3 | Door County | 61.5 | 31.4 | 27.5 | 70.9 | 85.4 | 80.4 | 81.7 | 53.1 | 86 | 53.6 | 68 | 62.2 | |
| 4 | Buffalo County | 60.4 | 16.6 | 42.1 | 63.6 | 82.5 | 88.1 | 70.5 | 85.5 | 36.7 | 49.3 | 64.5 | 75.3 | |
| 5 | Oneida County | 60.2 | 42.1 | 43.6 | 65.4 | 62.9 | 81.5 | 87 | 37.5 | 36.6 | 49.1 | 54.1 | 47.4 | |
| 6 | Price County | 59.4 | 15.3 | 60.4 | 34.5 | 72 | 76.4 | 82 | 67.7 | 32.8 | 49.8 | 67.6 | 53 | |
| 7 | Bayfield County | 58.6 | 33.3 | 53.3 | 65.3 | 51.3 | 78.7 | 83.2 | 64.9 | 34.3 | 49.5 | 67.4 | 46.5 | |
| 8 | Kewaunee County | 58.6 | 13.8 | 41.1 | 83.9 | 78.7 | 88.6 | 58.4 | 82.7 | 45.9 | 53.6 | 81.4 | 68.7 | |
| 9 | Washburn County | 58.2 | 30.6 | 49.9 | 42.9 | 84.5 | 61.1 | 68.9 | 67.3 | 31.1 | 50.1 | 66.1 | 47.8 | |
| 10 | Menominee County | 57.5 | 0 | 90 | 37.6 | 81.3 | 36.9 | 59.5 | 90.9 | N/A | 49.9 | 70.4 | 56.5 | |
| 11 | Florence County | 56.6 | 20.6 | 52.4 | 47.5 | 82.5 | 66.6 | 70.3 | 45.8 | 10.6 | 49.3 | 59.1 | 50 | |
| 12 | Pepin County | 56.5 | 14.6 | 40.4 | 76.6 | 88.1 | 75.6 | 52.5 | 92.8 | 12.4 | 49.4 | 63.5 | 74.1 | |
| 13 | Iowa County | 56.2 | 10.4 | 27.3 | 87.2 | 67.1 | 92.8 | 82.2 | 76.6 | 17.1 | 52.8 | 71.1 | 66.6 | |
| 14 | Oconto County | 56.1 | 23.3 | 49 | 78.4 | 65.4 | 76.8 | 68.5 | 38.6 | 31.7 | 49.9 | 65.7 | 54.9 | |
| 15 | Ozaukee County | 56.1 | 23 | 13.7 | 94.6 | 68.7 | 97.7 | 78.4 | 49.7 | 45.2 | 56 | 64 | 68.8 | |
| 16 | Trempealeau County | 56 | 9.3 | 34.4 | 69.5 | 89 | 78.1 | 71.9 | 41.4 | 29.1 | 48.8 | 68.6 | 72.2 | |
| 17 | Langlade County | 54.7 | 19.5 | 77.1 | 31 | 49.8 | 68.3 | 69 | 50.5 | 24.3 | 50.4 | 68.7 | 51.4 | |
| 18 | Waupaca County | 54.7 | 13.1 | 41.5 | 69.2 | 79 | 74.6 | 62.9 | 32.4 | 58.1 | 49.6 | 56.5 | 62 | |
| 19 | Waushara County | 54.5 | 20 | 52 | 54.3 | 69.3 | 59.3 | 71.2 | 56.8 | 40.3 | 49.9 | 59.3 | 67.7 | |
| 20 | Green County | 54 | 8.7 | 33.9 | 84 | 62.4 | 81.4 | 81.4 | 53.6 | 39.1 | 48.3 | 74.9 | 64.1 | |
| 21 | Lafayette County | 54 | 8.8 | 40.8 | 71.6 | 78.9 | 69.1 | 66.1 | 66.9 | 23.2 | 50.6 | 73.9 | 62.5 | |
| 22 | Rusk County | 53.8 | 25.3 | 54.8 | 33.7 | 71.3 | 62.4 | 62.4 | 62.7 | 12 | 49.6 | 67.3 | 48.5 | |
| 23 | Forest County | 53.5 | 26.9 | 79.3 | 38.1 | 70.9 | 45 | 43.5 | 52.6 | 20.5 | 50.3 | 62.8 | 48.9 | |
| 24 | Pierce County | 53.4 | 13.9 | 17.5 | 91.4 | 74.1 | 90.4 | 64.3 | 57.7 | 48.2 | 48.3 | 62.9 | 75.6 | |
| 25 | Shawano County | 53.2 | 15.4 | 53 | 59.1 | 63.1 | 72.5 | 63.3 | 36.9 | 44.3 | 49.9 | 61.5 | 58.1 |
Iron County
Vilas County
Door County
Buffalo County
Oneida County
Price County
Bayfield County
Kewaunee County
Washburn County
Menominee County
Florence County
Pepin County
Iowa County
Oconto County
Ozaukee County
Trempealeau County
Langlade County
Waupaca County
Waushara County
Green County
Lafayette County
Rusk County
Forest County
Pierce County
Shawano County
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in Wisconsin
Common questions about county rankings and scores in Wisconsin.
What is the best county in Wisconsin?
Iron County is the top-ranked county in Wisconsin with a CountyScore of 65.4/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets.
How many counties are ranked in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has 72 counties in total. Of those, 72 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to eight data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, and Water Quality. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever dimensions have data. Currently available dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in Wisconsin?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in Wisconsin is 50/100. The national average is 50/100, so Wisconsin counties score 0 points above the national average.
How does Wisconsin compare to other states?
Wisconsin's average county score of 50/100 is 0 points above the national average of 50/100. You can compare Wisconsin counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in Wisconsin.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.