29 counties · Boom Town Index

Wisconsin

Avg BTI Score
82 / 100
Population
4.8M
+0.2% avg growth
National Rank
#1 of 51

State Overview

Wisconsin's economy in 2025-2026 is experiencing a period of measured growth, driven by specific sectors and significant infrastructure investments. While national economic conditions show some softening, Wisconsin maintains lower unemployment rates and steady consumer spending. The state's personal income is projected to grow, supported by gains in wages and salaries, though at a slightly slower pace than the national average.

The housing market in Wisconsin is stabilizing, with home prices continuing to rise, albeit with fewer bidding wars. Major construction projects, particularly in data centers and transportation infrastructure, are contributing to job growth and economic activity across the state, including in Racine County, Kenosha County, and the Milwaukee metropolitan area. Policy changes are also aiming to address housing supply and affordability.

Median Household Income
$72,658
State median across 29 counties
Median Home Value
$226,400
Income-to-home ratio: 0.33
Building Permits
18,801
Total residential permits
Natural Amenity
4.4 / 10
#40 of 49 · USDA scale

Wisconsin Counties

29 counties
Rank County BTI Score Safety Proj. Growth GDP Pop Growth Income Ratio Home Price Climate P/R
01 Dodge County 99 B- +5.8% +0.9% -0.3% +8.1% 4.7x +8.1% -1.8 14x
02 Marathon County 98 A +6.4% +2.5% +0.2% +7.8% 2.9x +9.0% -3.3 17x
03 Waupaca County 96 C+ +5.2% +3.6% +0.1% +6.3% 4.6x +7.8% -2.5 18x
04 Sauk County 96 C +3.7% +1.4% +0.4% +7.7% 3.5x +4.6% -1.0 16x
05 Fond du Lac County 95 B +5.9% -0.3% +0.1% +6.0% 4.0x +5.3% -1.9 15x
06 Rock County 95 B +5.4% +1.6% +0.2% +7.8% 3.7x +6.9% -2.6 13x
07 Portage County 94 B +5.6% +2.5% -0.1% +8.8% 3.3x +11.2% -2.5 14x
08 Sheboygan County 93 A +4.8% +3.0% +0.2% +5.5% 3.2x +6.7% -0.4 17x
09 Grant County 93 B+ +4.7% +1.7% -0.7% +8.9% 3.8x +6.7% -0.5 18x
10 Walworth County 93 A +4.4% +1.6% -0.8% +8.3% 5.5x +3.9% -2.5 16x
11 Manitowoc County 92 B+ +5.2% +3.0% +0.2% +8.1% 3.2x +6.0% -0.4 18x
12 Wood County 89 B+ +4.7% +1.0% +0.0% +9.1% 2.8x +8.2% -2.4 14x
13 Winnebago County 86 B+ +4.5% +2.4% -0.1% +9.6% 2.9x +5.7% -1.4 14x
14 Outagamie County 85 A +4.5% +2.0% +0.5% +8.3% 3.2x +6.9% -3.4 15x
15 Washington County 84 A +4.4% +2.4% +0.4% +7.4% 5.7x +6.2% -2.6 18x
16 La Crosse County 84 B+ +3.0% +1.2% -0.1% +9.4% 3.6x +3.6% -0.7 16x
17 Columbia County 84 B +4.5% +0.4% +0.1% +7.4% 4.5x +6.8% -0.5 22x
18 Racine County 84 B- +2.6% +2.1% -0.2% +8.1% 4.9x +4.3% -0.5 14x
19 Brown County 83 B+ +5.2% +3.2% +0.4% +7.7% 3.0x +5.4% -1.4 17x
20 Jefferson County 78 B +4.6% +3.0% +1.3% +7.4% 5.4x +5.2% -1.6 16x
21 Calumet County 77 B +5.0% +1.2% +0.5% +7.3% 7.1x +7.2% -1.5 21x
22 Eau Claire County 76 B- +1.5% +1.8% +0.5% +8.3% 3.6x +2.5% -3.2 17x
23 Kenosha County 74 B- +5.1% +2.1% -0.0% +9.3% 5.0x +5.6% -0.5 11x
24 Waukesha County 69 A +4.0% +1.1% +0.5% +7.8% 4.4x +5.3% -2.1 18x
25 Ozaukee County 68 B+ +3.7% -0.2% +0.8% +6.2% 5.7x +4.7% -0.4 17x
26 Chippewa County 66 C+ +3.1% +2.0% +0.6% +10.5% 4.8x +4.1% -2.4 15x
27 Milwaukee County 63 F +1.7% +1.8% -0.7% +8.3% 3.0x +3.7% -0.4 11x
28 St. Croix County 51 B +1.0% +2.1% +1.4% +7.3% 6.8x +1.4% -1.4 15x
29 Dane County 31 B+ +1.6% +2.9% +0.8% +7.5% 3.7x +2.6% -0.2 17x

Capital Investment in Wisconsin

Tracked Projects · Public Records
$75.6B
Total tracked investment
14,542
Jobs announced
110
Projects across 23 counties

Where the money is going

Data Centers $49.9B 66%
Energy $16.6B 22%
Manufacturing $5.8B 8%
Commercial/Residential $2.1B 3%
Infrastructure $780M 1%

Top counties by investment

  1. 01 Ozaukee County $15.2B
    2 projects · 4,000 jobs
  2. 02 Dane County $12.7B
    5 projects · 4,250 jobs
  3. 03 Racine County $11.7B
    5 projects · 2,000 jobs
  4. 04 Rock County $9.8B
    6 projects
  5. 05 Kenosha County $6.3B
    6 projects
  6. 06 Portage County $2.4B
    5 projects · 800 jobs

Largest projects in Wisconsin

Project County Amount Status
Lighthouse Campus Data Center
Vantage Data Centers (for Oracle and OpenAI) · Data Centers · 4,000 jobs
 Ozaukee County $15.0B Under Construction
QTS Data Center Campus
QTS Data Centers · Data Centers · 450 jobs
 Dane County $12.0B Proposed
Viridian Janesville Data Center (Former GM Plant)
Viridian Acquisitions LLC · Data Centers
 Rock County $8.0B Proposed
Microsoft Data Center Campus (Mount Pleasant)
Microsoft · Data Centers · 2,000 jobs
 Racine County $7.3B Under Construction
Microsoft Project Nova Data Center (Caledonia)
Microsoft · Data Centers
 Racine County $4.0B Proposed
Eli Lilly & Company Manufacturing Facility Expansion
Eli Lilly & Company · Manufacturing
 Kenosha County $3.0B Under Construction
Vista Sands Solar Farm
Doral LLC · Energy · 500 jobs
 Portage County $2.0B Planned
Red Oak Ridge Energy Center (Proposed Natural Gas Plant)
Invenergy · Energy
 Kenosha County $1.2B Proposed
→ Methodology · How We Tracked $4T Across 858 Counties

Source: public records, corporate announcements, state EDC filings. Tracking projects with $25M+ in announced investment or 500+ jobs. Some figures are estimates where exact totals weren't disclosed.

Wisconsin shaded relief terrain map
SRTM 30m shaded relief
State Spotlight · 2026-04-29

Wisconsin's economy builds on data centers, infrastructure

What's driving growth

Advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and data center development are key drivers. Microsoft's $7.3 billion investment in data centers in Racine County exemplifies this trend. The Education and Health Services sector is expected to lead job growth in 2025 and 2026.

Housing market right now

The housing market is stabilizing, with home prices in Wisconsin up 8.6% year-over-year in March 2026. Kenosha experienced a surge in homebuyer demand in late 2025, becoming a top housing market due to its relative affordability and proximity to Chicago. New construction of single-family homes in Wisconsin exceeded pre-pandemic levels in the 12 months ending October 2025, with approximately 13,000 permits issued.

Migration patterns

U-Haul's 2025 midyear report indicated a return to major metropolitan areas nationally, with Wisconsin identified as a top origin state for those moving to other large metros. This suggests some outflow from Wisconsin to other major urban centers, while also indicating internal shifts within the state.

Headwinds

While overall economic growth is present, manufacturing employment is expected to continue losing jobs. Retail employment in Wisconsin also experienced a loss of approximately 1,200 jobs between January and August 2025. Businesses also express concerns about the national economy, healthcare costs, and labor availability.

Key facts

  • Wisconsin's personal income is projected to grow 4.6% in 2025. (Wisconsin Department of Revenue, November 2025)
  • Total nonfarm employment in Wisconsin is forecast to grow modestly by 0.4% in 2025. (Wisconsin Department of Revenue, November 2025)
  • Home prices in Wisconsin were up 8.6% year-over-year in March 2026. (Redfin, March 2026)
  • Wisconsin Act 78, signed in December 2025, enhances tax credit incentives for workforce housing and childcare. (Wisconsin Economic Development Association, December 2025)
  • Wisconsin Act 173, signed in April 2026, requires municipalities to align zoning ordinances with comprehensive plans to increase housing supply. (Badger Institute, April 2026)
Updated 2026-04-29 · grounded research
17 sources
  1. wi.gov
  2. wi.gov
  3. demlanghomebuilders.com
  4. redfin.com
  5. constructionowners.com
  6. wisbank.com
  7. knightbarry.com
  8. badgerinstitute.org
  9. realtor.com
  10. mkeregion.com
  11. uhaul.com
  12. fingerlakes1.com
  13. wi.gov
  14. marquette.edu
  15. wmc.org
  16. wisconsin.gov
  17. weda.org