State relocation profile · Federal data
Wisconsin
Cost of living, fair-market rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare for Wisconsin from federal sources.
- 94.1
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,097
- 2BR rent / mo
- $71,762
- Median salary
- 54.3
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Wisconsin ranks #15 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (54.3/100, D), with its strongest marks in rent and cost of living.
- #15 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 54.3
- Life Score · D
- 94.1
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $71,762
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: environment (22/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), Wisconsin ranks #15 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 94.1 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,097/mo, median salary $71,762; Life Score 54.3/100 (D), strongest in rent and cost of living.
Signature: Life Score 54.3/100 places Wisconsin #15 of 51 (top third of scored states).
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 94.1 between corpus terciles 93.3 and 100.7. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $1,097/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $71,762.
Composite Life Score 54.3/100 (D) puts Wisconsin in the top third (#15 of 51).
Metro book is dense (13 MSAs); drill a named metro before treating the state average as a destination.
Life Score plate
Sheet WI · Wisconsin 54.3/100 · D · #15 of 51
LIFE-D · RANK-UPPER · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-CHEAP · LEAD-RENT · BOOK-FULL
- LIFE-D Life Score D
- RANK-UPPER #15/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±1.0 pts
- RPP-CHEAP RPP 94.1
- LEAD-RENT Lead · rent
- BOOK-FULL 7/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: Minnesota ( -1.0 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around Wisconsin
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest Wisconsin on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
Wisconsin childcare costs
DOL state-average center rates for Wisconsin (infant $11,256/yr leads the book).
Wisconsin Life Score breakdown
Wisconsin composites to 54.3/100 (D) across 7 of 7 dimensions; corpus place #15 of 51.
Wisconsin - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Rent
Rent
66 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
62 /100
- Schools
Schools
60 /100
- Wages
Wages
56 /100
- Safety
Safety
52 /100
- Childcare
Childcare
48 /100
- Environment 22
Environment
22 /100
What this shows Wisconsin's strongest dimensions are rent and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is environment at 22/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 7 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near Wisconsin on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to Wisconsin on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in Wisconsin
Explore detailed relocation data for 13 metropolitan areas in Wisconsin. Wisconsin contains 13 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Appleton, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac and more - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Appleton metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Wisconsin cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Wisconsin wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.