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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Wisconsin, 2026

Rothschild is the most affordable ranked town in Wisconsin. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

158
Towns ranked in Wisconsin.
Rothschild
Number 1 in Wisconsin. Rent is 13.2% of income. National rank 635.
16.5%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Wisconsin.
0
Ranked Wisconsin towns in the national top 100.
Somers
Least affordable ranked town in Wisconsin. Rent is 21.7% of income. National rank 3929.

Gasoline

$4.237

per gallon. EIA does not publish a Wisconsin price. This is the Midwest (PADD 2) price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $2,033.76 a year for every ranked town in Wisconsin.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Wisconsin." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/wisconsin

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Benefits and taxes in Wisconsin

Top 25

  1. #1 in Wisconsin · National #635

    Rothschild

    Rent share 13.2% · Price level 92.7 · Score 0.272

    Median rent is $970 a month and median income is $88,261, so rent is 13.2% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Wausau, WI metro price level is 92.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  2. #2 in Wisconsin · National #681

    Kronenwetter

    Rent share 11.7% · Price level 92.7 · Score 0.277

    Median rent is $1,125 a month and median income is $115,044, so rent is 11.7% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Wausau, WI metro price level is 92.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  3. #3 in Wisconsin · National #777

    Superior

    Rent share 16.8% · Price level 88.8 · Score 0.286

    Median rent is $900 a month and median income is $64,216, so rent is 16.8% of income, over the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Duluth, MN-WI metro price level is 88.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  4. #4 in Wisconsin · National #851

    Greenville

    Rent share 12.3% · Price level 92.4 · Score 0.291

    Median rent is $1,214 a month and median income is $117,977, so rent is 12.3% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Appleton, WI metro price level is 92.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  5. #5 in Wisconsin · National #903

    Allouez

    Rent share 14.6% · Price level 93.1 · Score 0.296

    Median rent is $1,114 a month and median income is $91,250, so rent is 14.6% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Green Bay, WI metro price level is 93.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  6. #6 in Wisconsin · National #908

    Appleton

    Rent share 15.4% · Price level 92.4 · Score 0.297

    Median rent is $1,030 a month and median income is $80,483, so rent is 15.4% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Appleton, WI metro price level is 92.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  7. #7 in Wisconsin · National #915

    Milton

    Rent share 13.0% · Price level 93.7 · Score 0.297

    Median rent is $930 a month and median income is $85,959, so rent is 13.0% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Janesville-Beloit, WI metro price level is 93.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  8. #8 in Wisconsin · National #916

    Harrison

    Rent share 14.0% · Price level 92.4 · Score 0.297

    Median rent is $1,422 a month and median income is $121,504, so rent is 14.0% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Appleton, WI metro price level is 92.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  9. #9 in Wisconsin · National #938

    Manitowoc

    Rent share 15.1% · Price level 94.1 · Score 0.299

    Median rent is $804 a month and median income is $63,757, so rent is 15.1% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin state price level is 94.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  10. #10 in Wisconsin · National #987

    Little Chute

    Rent share 15.8% · Price level 92.4 · Score 0.302

    Median rent is $1,150 a month and median income is $87,538, so rent is 15.8% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Appleton, WI metro price level is 92.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  11. #11 in Wisconsin · National #988

    West Salem

    Rent share 15.9% · Price level 91.8 · Score 0.302

    Median rent is $1,283 a month and median income is $97,019, so rent is 15.9% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro price level is 91.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  12. #12 in Wisconsin · National #989

    Suamico

    Rent share 12.0% · Price level 93.1 · Score 0.302

    Median rent is $1,188 a month and median income is $118,337, so rent is 12.0% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Green Bay, WI metro price level is 93.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  13. #13 in Wisconsin · National #1001

    Fort Atkinson

    Rent share 14.5% · Price level 94.1 · Score 0.303

    Median rent is $961 a month and median income is $79,302, so rent is 14.5% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin state price level is 94.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  14. #14 in Wisconsin · National #1008

    Marinette

    Rent share 16.5% · Price level 94.1 · Score 0.303

    Median rent is $807 a month and median income is $58,638, so rent is 16.5% of income, over the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin state price level is 94.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  15. #15 in Wisconsin · National #1020

    Weston

    Rent share 15.7% · Price level 92.7 · Score 0.305

    Median rent is $1,024 a month and median income is $78,207, so rent is 15.7% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Wausau, WI metro price level is 92.7 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  16. #16 in Wisconsin · National #1029

    Kaukauna

    Rent share 16.2% · Price level 92.4 · Score 0.305

    Median rent is $1,083 a month and median income is $80,365, so rent is 16.2% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Appleton, WI metro price level is 92.4 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  17. #17 in Wisconsin · National #1062

    Mayville

    Rent share 15.0% · Price level 94.1 · Score 0.308

    Median rent is $835 a month and median income is $66,834, so rent is 15.0% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin state price level is 94.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  18. #18 in Wisconsin · National #1089

    Two Rivers

    Rent share 16.4% · Price level 94.1 · Score 0.310

    Median rent is $780 a month and median income is $57,222, so rent is 16.4% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin state price level is 94.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  19. #19 in Wisconsin · National #1093

    Neenah

    Rent share 16.0% · Price level 92.9 · Score 0.310

    Median rent is $1,006 a month and median income is $75,374, so rent is 16.0% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Oshkosh-Neenah, WI metro price level is 92.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  20. #20 in Wisconsin · National #1096

    Ripon

    Rent share 17.0% · Price level 91.6 · Score 0.310

    Median rent is $775 a month and median income is $54,763, so rent is 17.0% of income, over the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Fond du Lac, WI metro price level is 91.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  21. #21 in Wisconsin · National #1101

    Onalaska

    Rent share 15.8% · Price level 91.8 · Score 0.310

    Median rent is $1,130 a month and median income is $85,867, so rent is 15.8% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro price level is 91.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  22. #22 in Wisconsin · National #1106

    Fox Crossing

    Rent share 15.3% · Price level 92.9 · Score 0.311

    Median rent is $1,009 a month and median income is $79,187, so rent is 15.3% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Oshkosh-Neenah, WI metro price level is 92.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  23. #23 in Wisconsin · National #1124

    Sheboygan Falls

    Rent share 14.8% · Price level 94.0 · Score 0.312

    Median rent is $883 a month and median income is $71,477, so rent is 14.8% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Sheboygan, WI metro price level is 94.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  24. #24 in Wisconsin · National #1143

    Richland Center

    Rent share 15.8% · Price level 94.1 · Score 0.313

    Median rent is $683 a month and median income is $51,932, so rent is 15.8% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin state price level is 94.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

  25. #25 in Wisconsin · National #1155

    De Pere

    Rent share 14.9% · Price level 93.1 · Score 0.314

    Median rent is $1,053 a month and median income is $84,869, so rent is 14.9% of income, under the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Green Bay, WI metro price level is 93.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is electricity price.

Least affordable 10

  1. #158 in Wisconsin · National #3929

    Somers

    Rent share 21.7% · Price level 101.1 · Score 0.513

    Median rent is $1,455 a month and median income is $80,488, so rent is 21.7% of income, over the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Kenosha, WI metro price level is 101.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #157 in Wisconsin · National #3828

    Pewaukee

    Rent share 24.3% · Price level 96.9 · Score 0.507

    Median rent is $1,260 a month and median income is $62,139, so rent is 24.3% of income, over the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro price level is 96.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #156 in Wisconsin · National #3575

    Madison

    Rent share 21.7% · Price level 97.3 · Score 0.484

    Median rent is $1,413 a month and median income is $78,050, so rent is 21.7% of income, over the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Madison, WI metro price level is 97.3 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #155 in Wisconsin · National #3502

    Milwaukee

    Rent share 23.4% · Price level 96.9 · Score 0.477

    Median rent is $1,059 a month and median income is $54,234, so rent is 23.4% of income, over the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro price level is 96.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is tax burden and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #154 in Wisconsin · National #3500

    Hudson

    Rent share 17.4% · Price level 104.8 · Score 0.477

    Median rent is $1,359 a month and median income is $93,937, so rent is 17.4% of income, over the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro price level is 104.8 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is rent share and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  6. #153 in Wisconsin · National #3413

    Glendale

    Rent share 22.0% · Price level 96.9 · Score 0.470

    Median rent is $1,432 a month and median income is $78,092, so rent is 22.0% of income, over the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro price level is 96.9 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #152 in Wisconsin · National #3405

    Platteville

    Rent share 24.0% · Price level 94.1 · Score 0.469

    Median rent is $863 a month and median income is $43,083, so rent is 24.0% of income, over the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin state price level is 94.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #151 in Wisconsin · National #3380

    Kenosha

    Rent share 20.0% · Price level 101.1 · Score 0.467

    Median rent is $1,186 a month and median income is $71,239, so rent is 20.0% of income, over the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Kenosha, WI metro price level is 101.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is regional price level.

  9. #150 in Wisconsin · National #3186

    Lake Geneva

    Rent share 22.0% · Price level 94.1 · Score 0.454

    Median rent is $1,389 a month and median income is $75,629, so rent is 22.0% of income, over the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin state price level is 94.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #149 in Wisconsin · National #3156

    Whitewater

    Rent share 22.7% · Price level 94.1 · Score 0.452

    Median rent is $1,041 a month and median income is $54,969, so rent is 22.7% of income, over the 16.5% median for ranked towns in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin state price level is 94.1 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 19.06 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $4.237 a gallon (Midwest (PADD 2)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Wisconsin in this index?

Rothschild is number 1 of 158 ranked towns in Wisconsin. Median rent is 13.2% of median income. Its national rank is 635.

How many towns in Wisconsin were ranked?

158 towns in Wisconsin have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Wisconsin?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.