29 counties · Boom Town Index

Wisconsin

Avg BTI Score
59 / 100
Population
4.8M
+0.3% avg growth
National Rank
#16 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
$77,884
State median across 29 counties
Median Home Value
$257,900
Income-to-home ratio: 0.31
Building Permits
20,261
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 Wood County 96 B+ +2.6% — -0.1% +2.4% 6.2x +6.2% -2.4 13x
02 Sheboygan County 88 A +3.5% — +0.2% +1.7% 6.8x +5.5% -0.4 16x
03 Waukesha County 85 A +3.4% — +0.7% +1.9% 9.2x +6.2% -2.1 18x
04 Racine County 82 B- +3.1% — +0.3% +3.7% 10.1x +5.6% -0.5 14x
05 Kenosha County 81 B- +3.5% — +0.0% +2.3% 9.8x +6.9% -0.5 13x
06 Marathon County 80 A +3.5% — +0.2% +2.2% 7.2x +9.1% -3.3 18x
07 Fond du Lac County 80 B +3.7% — +0.1% +1.5% 8.5x +4.7% -1.9 17x
08 Walworth County 80 A +3.1% — +0.2% +4.1% 13.0x +4.4% -2.5 16x
09 Ozaukee County 75 B+ +2.3% — +0.7% +0.3% 14.4x +6.3% -0.4 17x
10 Rock County 75 B +3.7% — +0.2% +1.7% 8.7x +6.5% -2.6 15x
11 Dodge County 74 B- +3.9% — -0.1% +2.6% 8.9x +6.3% -1.8 17x
12 Outagamie County 68 A +3.5% — +0.7% +2.7% 7.4x +5.2% -3.4 18x
13 Chippewa County 64 C+ +2.4% — +0.4% +0.9% 11.5x +3.3% -2.4 17x
14 Sauk County 63 C +2.2% — +0.4% +2.4% 8.9x +5.1% -1.0 17x
15 Brown County 59 B+ +3.0% — +0.5% +2.8% 6.8x +4.9% -1.4 20x
16 Columbia County 59 B +2.0% — -0.1% +3.1% 13.8x +4.7% -0.5 24x
17 Waupaca County 52 C+ +2.9% — -0.3% +2.3% 11.8x +5.9% -2.5 21x
18 Washington County 51 A +3.3% — +0.4% +0.5% 13.5x +6.2% -2.6 21x
19 La Crosse County 48 B+ +1.8% — +0.2% +3.3% 7.2x +5.2% -0.7 18x
20 Winnebago County 47 B+ +2.8% — +0.2% +2.8% 6.2x +4.7% -1.4 15x
21 Calumet County 45 B +2.7% — +0.6% +1.3% 17.0x +5.2% -1.5 21x
22 Milwaukee County 39 F +2.4% — -0.1% +3.7% 6.3x +3.7% -0.4 13x
23 Portage County 39 B +3.0% — +0.7% +3.8% 8.8x +10.0% -2.5 15x
24 Dane County 33 B+ +1.7% — +1.4% +2.1% 8.1x +2.6% -0.2 20x
25 Jefferson County 33 B +2.8% — +0.2% +3.9% 12.5x +5.2% -1.6 17x
26 Manitowoc County 33 B+ +2.3% — +0.1% +0.8% 8.3x +5.1% -0.4 13x
27 Eau Claire County 31 B- +2.0% — +0.7% +3.8% 8.0x +2.5% -3.2 20x
28 St. Croix County 31 B +1.9% — +1.3% +0.6% 17.1x +1.8% -1.4 18x
29 Grant County 22 B+ +1.4% — +0.2% +3.9% 12.3x +6.0% -0.5 21x

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

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