Welcome to Wisconsin.
There’s a reason Wisconsin attracts, retains, and produces top talent: People love living here. Move or expand your business to Wisconsin, and you may want to live here, too. From our top national rankings in quality of life, education, health care, and more to our 22-minute average commute, four glorious seasons, and nearly 3,000 miles of trails, the good life is easy to find here. Because of that, great employees are, too. Let’s take a look at what you and your team have to look forward to in Wisconsin.
Look forward to the good life in Wisconsin.
Outdoors & Recreation
Nature is good for the soul. When you live in Wisconsin, you’re never far from it. Our state boasts nearly 3,000 miles of trails for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling—you name it. Even our largest cities, Milwaukee and Madison, are rated in the top 15 cities nationally for the most green space per capita.
If you love the water, we have that, too—and lots of it. Because Wisconsin is located on the Great Lakes, we have hundreds of miles of freshwater coast—and the surfers to go with it (true story). You’ll also find more than 15,000 inland lakes, lots of them circled by cozy cabins and perfect for boating, fishing and relaxation. Take a deep breath—you’re in Wisconsin.
2,700+ miles of recreational trails
15,000+ freshwater lakes
300+ farmers markets
LARGEST cross-country ski race in North America
Arts & Culture
Being surrounded by all this natural beauty is inspiring. In fact, Wisconsin has been the home of some of the country’s most creative minds, including artist Georgia O’Keefe, musician Les Paul, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and writer/director John Ridley. When you bring your company to Wisconsin, you and your employees will find rich culture and creative outlets all around.
From numerous repertory theater companies and more than 20 symphonies to world-renowned art museums, from James Beard Award-winning chefs to the only Master Cheesemaker program outside of Europe, from our NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks to our beloved Green Bay Packers, from the nation’s largest music festival to the world’s largest Irish festival: There’s always something interesting—and fun—happening in Wisconsin.
Summerfest The World’s Largest Music Festival® is held every year in Milwaukee.
11 federally recognized Native American tribes call Wisconsin home
Milwaukee Ballet is the only Midwest dance school with National Association of Schools of Dance accreditation.
Family Life
Wisconsin has had a net inflow of people ages 25-54 for almost a decade. That makes it a great place to find the talent you need—and it’s because Wisconsin is an exceptional place to raise a family. But don’t just take our word for it: Green Bay and Madison are ranked third and seventh nationally as best places to raise a family.
When it comes to education, a low cost of living, a safe environment, and access to exceptional health care, Wisconsin ranks near the top—and that’s just the day-to-day. When it’s time for the fam to cut loose, Wisconsin offers thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails, more that 150,000 acres of state park land, the Waterpark Capital of the World®, and incredible museums and activities for all ages throughout the state.
Up to 34% Lower cost of living than the east and west coasts
Source: Council for Community and Economic Research Cost of Living Index
#1 city for child opportunity, Madison
Source: DiversityDataKids.com, 2020
#3 and #7 Green Bay and Madison are nationally ranked as best cities for families
Source: U.S. News, 2022
Education
Wisconsin’s foundation of forward thinking and exceptional education continues to be an advantage for employers. Locate your company here, and you’ll be surrounded by 35 public and private universities, including two Tier 1 research universities; the nation’s oldest and most extensive technical school system, with 16 campuses; and a public school system ranked fifth in the nation.
The result is a talent pool that puts up impressive numbers, with nearly 95,000 degrees and certificates awarded annually—including about 5,000 in engineering alone. In fact, one-third of our workforce holds a bachelor’s degree or higher, and nearly 95% have a high school diploma or higher. All of this adds up to the talent and innovation your company needs to compete.
#6 in the nation for overall education
Source: U.S. News, 2022
#5 in the nation for quality public schools
Source: WalletHub, 2022
$1B+ in annual academic research expenditures
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Higher Education Research & Development Survey
2 Tier 1 research universities
Sources: Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education
Health Care
Expand your company in Wisconsin, and you and your employees will have some of the best minds in medicine, right in your backyard. Our state ranks ninth in the nation for the quality of its health care, and there’s a reason why. We have a long history of leading the way in medicine. From pioneering bone marrow transplants and antibiotic resistance research—and with new national recognition of the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub as a leader in personalized medicine—Wisconsin continues to work tirelessly to make sure people live longer, healthier lives.
#9 in the nation for health care quality
Source: U.S. News, 2022
#12 in the nation for overall health care
Source: U.S. News, 2022
#2 in the nation for rural critical access hospitals
Source: Health Resources & Services Administration, 2022