16 Pros and Cons of Living in Wisconsin

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I live in Green Bay, WI, where I was born, and spend most of my time in Wisconsin here and up north and in the northwest part of the state.

However, I also enjoyed several trips to Milwaukee, and I can tell you what the pros and cons of living (or visiting) here would be.  

Pros of Living in Wisconsin

1. Beautiful Scenery

Not all of Wisconsin is flat.

There are even a few hilly areas and mountains, such as in Wausau or Eau Claire.

In Wausau, you will find a large supply of red granite, which happens to be the state’s official rock.

Funny, because I lost count of how many out-of-state people (and even people who do live in WI) teased me about “cow tipping” or cornfields.

I am not sure how many people it would take to tip over a cow, but the abundance of them and cornfields, I confess, is true.

There are plenty of cows and cornfields here, but there are plenty of state parks, cliffs, and forests too.

2. Four Distinct Seasons

I think the fact that Wisconsin does have spring, summer, fall, and winter makes it interesting.

What is more, despite long winters with average daily lows of less than 30 degrees for at least five months straight, you can enjoy plenty of warm days.

I cannot decide which season I like best, so for me, it is a tie between spring and fall.

During these transitional seasons, the high daily temperatures average around 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, the summer highs are not bad either, at an average of about 71-82 degrees Fahrenheit. 

I am glad that most of the time the summers don’t get too hot here either, with a few exceptions.

That gives you about six to seven months out of the year when you can enjoy the outdoors without freezing your fingers off.

Most of the time, it is also not more than 85 degrees here during the hottest time of the year, and it rains enough in WI to give you relief from the heat and humidity.

3. Friendly People

I consider myself lucky in Wisconsin.

I have stalled in the middle of nowhere in the winter and had people I did not even know take me to their house and help me to safety.

Of course, that is an extreme case–one I only made because either way I was in danger, but I am still alive to tell you how friendly and helpful people can be here. 

That does not mean the state has the lowest crime rate in the nation, but people have made reports on friendliness here:

“Wisconsinites are notoriously friendly, happy people. Despite the frigid weather in the winter and the constant annoyance of mosquitos in the summer, people in Wisco manage to put on a smile and offer a “Hey neighbor!” most of the time.” – The Bobber

“My husband and I just got back from a week’s vacation that included two nights in Milwaukee, one night in Door County, and driving through a large section of Wisconsin (going to Galena, Illinois and back), and I did not encounter even ONE person in that whole time that wasn’t extremely friendly and helpful.” User “Katharsis” of the Wisconsin City-Data Forum.

4. Plenty of Water

Living near the Great Lakes, we have plenty of water in Wisconsin, and unlike other places in the world, you can drink out of the tap in most locations here.

Some exceptions may apply, such as near some urban foundry areas.

Even then, people usually let the water settle or use a filter and still drink it.

If you do look up water reports, you will see that even in Milwaukee (the state’s most populous city) tap water is safe to drink – for the most part.

That does not mean that the water does not lead to any health concerns or does not have any contaminants.

However, the water quality is better here than in some other locations based on treatment measures used to improve it.

The Wisconsin Department of Health does warn people, however, about common tap water issues and how to test for them.

For instance, arsenic present in well water sometimes does occur, even though most farmers here would not use it.

That’s because it is also a substance naturally found in the soil in some places.

Other areas may sometimes experience high concentrations of heavy metals or some bacteria in the water.

However, 99% of the supply here is deemed safe as of 2020.

5. Relatively Low Cost of Living

For me, I found it odd that the last time I visited Ladysmith, WI, which is three to four hours away from Green Bay, things cost more “up there” (up north) than in Green Bay where I live.

I thought because housing is often cheaper in remote locations, the food would be too.

However, the food and gas, by the way, are generally cheaper where I live (Green Bay).

The cost of living in Wisconsin overall is also usually about 8.1% lower than in the rest of the country.

6. Year-Round Outdoor Fun

It does not matter what time of the year you come to Wisconsin.

You can enjoy outdoor activities all year round.

In the summer, you have hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting in most of the state parks and private campgrounds.

You also can enjoy skiing in Wausau, Eau Claire, and other northern locations in the winter.

By the way, if you want to try “bookdocking” (camping with no public electricity access), go to the Nicolet National Forest.

It is there and some of the state forest land where you can camp for free.

7.  Decent Schools

The quality of the K-12 system ranks slightly higher than the rest of the U.S. at a C-plus than a C.

The highest score for Wisconsin is in the “Chance-for-Success” category, for which the state ranked 10th with a B-minus.

By the way, WI also ranks 14th overall for the best school system for kids in the country.

As far as national universities, The University of Wisconsin-Madison tied with four other states for 42nd out of hundreds of institutions, including Boston University.

8. High-quality Health Care

Apparently, Wisconsin ranked #4 nationally for overall healthcare quality in 2018 by a branch of the U.S. Health and Human Services.

The U.S. According to 2019-2020 data, the U.S. News and World Report ranked Wisconsin 10th for overall healthcare quality and 15th for healthcare access.

Public health ranking is at 25 though, but it is still good overall.

Cons of Living in Wisconsin

1. Winters Too Long (Unless You Like Cold)

It is not always bitter cold here all winter long in Wisconsin.

Also, it does not snow here as much as people think, though it is the 10th snowiest state in the U.S.

Still, I am usually ready by the end of February for spring to finally come, and sometimes, temperatures above 50 degrees do not occur until April.

It even snowed one year on my birthday, which is on May 1.

2. Too Many Mosquitos

It is humid in Wisconsin, so you cannot always stay out too late after dark near the water or on the grass.

That is, unless you wear long shirts and pants, netting, or mosquito repellant spray.

That is the price you pay for camping and hiking in such moderate weather.

3. Undeveloped Public Transportation

One downside of living in a state that has quite a bit of natural scenery is the lack of public transportation in some areas.

If you do not have a vehicle, you probably have to live in Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison, or perhaps Wausau, Racine, Kenosha, La Crosse, or Appleton.

Otherwise, you have to use a bike or other wheels or depend on someone for a ride, which people are usually nice about.

Some of the smaller areas have very limited to no use of buses, and even in Green Bay, the buses only run at most every 30 minutes and do not even run on Sunday.

Although most places here have long-distant bus service (ex: Greyhound), some remote locations do not even have a station – just a pickup or drop-off spot near an open outdoor shelter.

4. Too Much Isolation

People living on farms or on the outskirts of suburban areas may feel isolated.

If shut-in during a snowstorm, for instance, they might not have much access to convenient stores or neighbors to socialize with.

I feel sorry for some of the people who live in some of these remote areas, but at least delivery services are now available.

5. Fair Amount of Crime

Most of the highest crime rates occur in the metropolitan areas, but not always.

However, most locations experience more theft, property, and vehicle crimes than violent ones.

You can find safe places to live, however, within less than 30 minutes of Milwaukee, Green Bay, Madison, or other medium and large cities.

6. Easy to Get Lost

I am speaking from experience.

The jokes about your GPS leading you to a cornfield or a dead-end separated by a river are true.

It does not happen often, but it does happen.

I say report these errors as soon as possible to your favorite map services.

It is frustrating sometimes with streets broken up in several locations, but that could happen anywhere.

7. High Property Taxes

People who own homes in Wisconsin often complain about the property taxes.

If they have a sidewalk, they also have to pay to have it fixed in some locations, whether the damage is their fault or not.

This state ranks 20th for total tax burdens, which include property, sales, and income taxes.

8. High Alcohol Consumption

It is not uncommon for you to hear people tell jokes about Wisconsinites and their alcohol, especially their local beers.

It is sometimes difficult for someone to want to stop drinking to avoid “adult beverages” here.

It is the state with the 8th highest alcohol consumption level and equally as high of DUIs reported as of 2022, unfortunately.

On the other hand, they at least have plenty of rehabs and recovery centers for people who want to stop drinking or using drugs.

Pros and Cons of Living in Wisconsin – Summary Table

Wisconsin Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Wisconsin Safety Review

Safety Index:

64

• OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
• TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
• PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
• NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
• MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
• TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
• SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
• WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM