RANK #400 / 1001 NAT · #21 / 29 WI · POP 51,770
1YR FORECAST: +2.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
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.
Grant County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +7.2% runs above the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 12.3x — home prices are high 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 60/100, Grant County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $66,858 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in WI.
Housing in Grant County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $200,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $813/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Grant County are both close to flat — population +0.2% YoY and jobs -0.2%. Home values shifted +7.2% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.47% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Grant County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +7.2% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Grant County is now valued at $200,700. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.