These two Wisconsin cities are among the 'Best Places to Live' in 2024, a new study says
As Wisconsinites, we don't need anyone to tell us how great it is to live in the Badger State.
Still, it's always nice to hear outsiders sing our praises. I mean, who wouldn't love a state filled with tasty cheese, good beer and beautiful nature?
Recently, U.S. News & World Report released its list of the "Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2024-2025." Understandably, U.S. News recognized Wisconsin's greatness and ranked two of the state's cities among the top 20 best places to call home in the country. Green Bay finished 12th on the list, while Madison took 14th.
Using data from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. News evaluated 150 major cities based on a variety of factors in four major categories:
Quality of Life Index (32%): crime rates; quality of public education/college readiness; resident wellbeing; average commute time; quality and availability of healthcare; air quality index, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Risk Index.
Value Index (27%): housing affordability determined by dividing the blended annual housing cost by the blended median annual household income, and data on the price parity for goods, housing, utilities and other.
Desirability Index (19%): ranking on SurveyMonkey's February 2024 city desirability list; net migration; number of temperate days between 55 and 75 degrees per year; number of restaurants and drinking establishments per 100,000 people.
Job Market Index (22%): unemployment rate and average salary.
Here's how Green Bay and Madison earned their rankings as great places to call home.
Green Bay is the 12th-best place to live in the country
Home of the state's beloved Packers, Green Bay offers plenty of fun things to do for people of all ages. U.S. News writer Kristin Bouchard said there's a "family feel" to Green Bay, and it offers "the perfect mix of big-city amenities complemented with a Midwestern, small-town feel."
"The city is known for its excellent public school system and is home to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, St. Norbert College and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College," Bouchard wrote. "Access to several health care systems, a walkable downtown connecting to the Fox River State Trail, and a thriving arts and culture scene make it attractive to retirees."
Residents and visitors can enjoy regular stadium tours at Lambeau Field, boating on the Fox River, the Bay Beach Amusement Park, and the Titletown District's full-size public football field, park, and winter tubing and ice skating. The city also boasts a "thriving craft beer industry," a variety of unique shopping and dining experiences, multi-use trails, and performing arts shows at the Resch Center, Weidner Center for the Performing Arts and historic Meyer Theatre.
You'll even have extra time to enjoy all these fun attractions; Green Bay's average commute time is 10 minutes less than the national average. The city is also in a prime spot for day trips throughout Wisconsin. It's about two hours from Milwaukee, 2.5 hours from Madison and 90 minutes from Door County.
Now for the possible downside: "Green Bay experiences all four seasons, with winter lasting from November through the beginning of March," Bouchard wrote. "The winter months are cold and snowy, but crisp, sunny springs lead to hot and humid summers."
Madison is the 14th-best place in the U.S. to call home
Wisconsin's capital city consistently ranks highly, whether it's among the country's happiest cities or its physically fittest. The University of Wisconsin-Madison was even recently included on Forbes' list of new public "Ivy League" schools.
The Madison area is the fastest growing in Wisconsin, thanks to increasing job opportunities in healthcare, tech and manufacturing, especially at Verona's ever-expanding Epic Systems healthcare software campus and similar businesses.
Madisonians can enjoy food prepared by award-winning chefs, performances by visiting internationally renowned artists, fresh produce at the Dane County Farmers Market, and numerous microbrews and craft cocktails, U.S. News writer Holly Henschen wrote. The Madison area's four major lakes are great for summer watersports and winter ice fishing. Plus, the nearby area is full of state parks and extensive regional bike paths.
"As in New York City, it is somewhat rare to encounter a native Madisonian," Henschen wrote. "Some who have relocated attended UW-Madison and never left. Others relocated to Madison for work. Nevertheless, the small-town vibe of Madison shines through."
As for the downside, Madison's cost of living is higher than both the state and national averages. Home prices are slightly higher than the national average. However, Madison is "much more affordable" than other major Midwest cities like Chicago, Henschen wrote.
Where does Milwaukee rank?
Milwaukee ranked 112th of 150 on U.S. News' list. U.S. News writer Andrea Tritschler praised the city's host of things to do, vibrant festival scene, professional sports teams, "relatively low cost of living and exciting new development."
"It's no surprise the residents are passionate about having fun," she wrote. "Milwaukee has a bustling nightlife, award-winning restaurants, lakefront museums, and a thriving music and arts scene. History and tradition are celebrated with German fare, craft beer, Friday fish fries and an array of cultural events."
Cost of living in Milwaukee is about average for the country, U.S. News says, with utilities being more costly than in warmer parts of the country but less expensive transportation and groceries. However, seemingly constant construction and other issues likely influenced the city's low ranking. The metro area "vibrates from the construction," and cranes have "become standard fixtures on the skyline," Tritschler wrote.
Tritschler called the Milwaukee County Transit System "slow and often unreliable," citing long commute times and limited late-night hours for some routes. She also suggested that multiple factors are pushing people out of Milwaukee and into the suburbs.
"The suffering public school system and high crime rates have pushed some families to the more expensive and conservative suburbs of Mequon and Wauwatosa, among others," she wrote.
What are the best places to live in the U.S. in 2024?
Here are the top 10 best U.S. cities to live in, according to U.S. News' rankings:
Naples, Fla.
Boise, Idaho
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Greenville, S.C.
Charlotte, N.C.
Raleigh, N.C.
Huntsville, Ala.
Virginia Beach, Va.
Austin, Texas
Boulder, Colo.
Check out U.S. News' full report and methodology here.
More: Why Wisconsin is the 'best' or 'worst' place on so many random lists
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Which Wisconsin cities are among the 'best places' to live in 2024?
