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Wisconsin

R+1  ·  High tax burden  ·  COL index 93

C+

7.65%

Income Tax

295

Violent Crime / 100K

78.1

Life Expectancy

$285K

Median Home

$1,250

Childcare / Mo

State Profile

74/100
255075100TAXES55SAFETY72HEALTH86SCHOOLS80AFFORDABLE82LONGEVITY67

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Taxes

Income Tax

7.65% top

Property Tax

~$4,304/yr on median home

1.51% / yr

Sales Tax

5.43% avg

Social Security

Exempt

Pension / IRA

Partial

Estate Tax

None

Inheritance Tax

None

Capital Gains

Taxed as income

Housing & Cost of Living

Cost of Living Index

National avg = 100

93

Median Home Price

$285,000

Median Rent (2BR)

$1,200/mo

Home Insurance

$1,100/yr

Flood Insurance

$550/yr

Homestead Exemption

Home equity protected from creditors

Unlimited

Asset Protection

Strong

Crime & Safety

Violent Crime Rate

Near national avg

295 / 100K

Property Crime Rate

Near national avg

1,787 / 100K

Traffic Fatality Rate

9 / 100K

Healthcare

State Healthcare Rank

Top tier

#8 of 50

Life Expectancy

78.1 yrs

Medicaid Expansion

Not Expanded

Uninsured Rate

Well below national avg

5.7%

Education

K-12 Quality Rank

#11 of 50

School Choice / Vouchers

Available

Childcare

Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)

$1,250/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

Avg Monthly Energy Bill

$135/mo

Avg Monthly Groceries

2-person household, moderate spending

$470/mo

Road Quality Rank

#11 of 50

Airports & Travel

Nonstop Destinations

From state's primary airport

75+ routes

Major Hub Airport

Regional airport — connections via hub

No

Culture & Lifestyle

Urban Population

Mix of urban and rural

70% urban

Restaurant Density

440/100K

Religious Congregations

185/100K

Pro Sports Teams

NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS

4 teams

Major Venues

Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)

6 venues

Craft Breweries

3.7/100K residents — Solid scene

220 breweries

Craft Distilleries

Strong spirits scene

50 distilleries

Live Music

Milwaukee beer capital heritage (Miller, Pabst roots); Summerfest (world's largest music festival by attendance); Madison House of Blues

World-class

Transportation

Car Insurance (Avg Annual)

$1,290

Traffic Fatality Rate

9 / 100K

Broadband Access

83% of households

Social & Legal

Abortion Access

1849 near-total ban being challenged in courts; access uncertain

Limited

LGBTQ+ Protections

Moderate

Marijuana

Illegal

Minimum Wage

$7.25/hr

Right to Work

Yes

Sports Betting

Illegal

Casino Gambling

Tribal casinos

Online Gambling

Illegal

State Lottery

23 tribal casinos. Sports betting bills have stalled due to tribal opposition to commercial expansion.

Yes

Age of Consent

18

Sex Education

No state sex ed mandate

Abstinence-plus

Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs

Circle S Ranch (Hartford) · Wisconsin Badger Naturists

Clubs only

Environment & Climate

Air Quality (Annual AQI)

Near national avg

34

Natural Disaster Risk

Moderate

Primary Hazards

blizzardtornadoflood

Politics & Gun Laws

2024 Presidential Vote

R+1

Gun Laws

Gun ControlF
2A LibertyA+

Carry Permit

Shall-issue

Purchase Permit Required

No

Gambling

Legal

Jobs & Economy

Job Market

+1% job growth · 3.2% unemployment

Moderate

Top Industries

ManufacturingHealthcareAgriculture

Tech Jobs

#26 of 50

Healthcare Jobs

#13 of 50

Remote Work

18% of workers

Median Household Income

$67,080

Daily Life

Gas Price (Regular)

Below avg (-0.16 vs national avg)

$3.14/gal

Consumer Fireworks

Consumer fireworks legal since 2022

Legal

Weather & Natural Risks

Winter Severity

Avg January high: 22°F

Harsh

Summer Heat

Moderate summers

81°F avg July

Annual Rainfall

32" / yr

Tornado Risk

Low

Hurricane Risk

Very Low

Wildfire Risk

Low

Flood Risk

Low

Veteran Benefits

Veteran-Friendly Score

6.5% of state population are veterans

20/100

Property Tax Exemption

Partial exemption for service-connected disability

Disability Only

Military Retirement Pay

Taxed

Active Duty Pay

Taxed

VA Facilities Access

Adequate

Notable Benefits

Standard federal VA benefits

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WI vs NC

Wisconsin vs North Carolina

COL 93 vs 94 · 7.65% vs 4.5% income tax

Full comparison →

WI vs TN

Wisconsin vs Tennessee

COL 93 vs 92 · 7.65% vs No income tax

Full comparison →

WI vs GA

Wisconsin vs Georgia

COL 93 vs 91 · 7.65% vs 5.49% income tax

Full comparison →

Stay Current

Get notified when Wisconsin tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.

Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI UCR ~2022. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund / US News ~2023. Education: Education Week ~2023. Housing: Zillow / Census ACS ~2024. Insurance: rate surveys ~2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.

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