Platteville
RANK #73 / 996 NAT · #9 / 29 WI · POP 51,842
1YR FORECAST: +4.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +37%
Grant County, Wisconsin, stands out for its distinctive Driftless Area landscape, a region untouched by glaciers, resulting in rolling hills, deep valleys, and scenic river bluffs. Located in the southwestern corner of the state, it borders the Mississippi and Lower Wisconsin Rivers, offering extensive outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, fishing, and boating. Platteville, the largest city, is home to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and the Mining & Rollo Jamison Museum, reflecting the county's rich history. The community feel is generally rural and welcoming, with towns like Lancaster offering a slower pace of life. Life in Grant County offers a blend of rural tranquility and community engagement. Public schools in the county are rated above average, with several districts serving the area. The economy is supported by a diverse range of sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and education, with institutions like the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College contributing to a skilled workforce. Recent economic developments include investments in data centers and energy, which are expected to contribute to the local tax base. The county also sees ongoing activity in manufacturing, and while the job market is not as large as urban centers, the cost of living, particularly rent in towns like Lancaster, is notably affordable.
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.8x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Cassville Data Center
Undisclosed (one of the big five or six tech companies)
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
A.Y. McDonald Brass Foundry and Expansion
A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co.
|
$340M | Under Construction |
|
Grant County Solar Project
Alliant Energy (constructed by NextEra Energy Resources, LLC)
|
$300M | Completed |
|
Red Barn Wind Farm
WPS and MGE (WEC Energy Group)
|
$162M | Operating |
|
Grant County Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
Alliant Energy
|
$100M | Operating |
|
Whitetail Wind Energy Center
Invenergy (WEC Energy Group, MGE)
|
$67M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Grant County ranks #73 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 93/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 0.9% year-over-year). Median household income here is $63,497.
By national standards, Grant County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $173,400, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $795/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Grant County is losing population (-0.7% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (-0.9% employment change). Home values are +6.7% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
In significant numbers — 5.01% of Grant County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.
Home values climbed +6.7% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Grant County is now valued at $173,400. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.