Want to live and work in Wisconsin?

The cost of living in Wisconsin is below the national average in most of the state. In Milwaukee, a one-bedroom apartment rents for between $1,000 and $1,500. In Green Bay, Appleton, Eau Claire, and Oshkosh, you can rent for $800 to $1,200. Madison is the priciest, with rents between $1,300 and $1,900.

Buying a home is feasible in almost every part of the state. Three-bedroom houses in good neighborhoods start at $250,000 in Milwaukee, and in smaller cities they can cost under $200,000. Madison has higher prices, especially near Lake Mendota and the university. Groceries, restaurants, and services are close to the national average, with cheese and dairy products being particularly good and affordable.

State income tax is moderate, and property tax is among the highest in the U.S., especially in wealthier counties. Families can live comfortably earning $60,000 to $80,000 in Milwaukee, and $75,000 to $90,000 in Madison.

Wisconsin has one of the strongest industrial economies in the Midwest. Harley-Davidson, headquartered in Milwaukee, is a symbol of the state. Other major manufacturers include Kohler (plumbing fixtures and generators), Mercury Marine (boat engines), Briggs & Stratton (small engines), and Oshkosh Corporation (military vehicles and trucks).

Dairy is a historic pillar. The state has more dairy cows than many countries produce milk. Companies like Sargento Cheese, Foremost Farms, and thousands of family farms sustain the industry. Dairy research is also strong, led by the University of Wisconsin.

Insurance and finance have a prominent presence: Northwestern Mutual and American Family Insurance are among the largest. In Madison, the insurance sector, state government, and technology (Epic Systems, a health software giant) employ many people. Healthcare is a stable sector, with hospitals like Aurora Health (Milwaukee) and UW Health (Madison). Historic brewing (Miller, Pabst) and lake tourism round out the economy.

Wisconsin's healthcare system follows the U.S. standard: private by default. Those with formal employment receive insurance as a benefit, with the employer covering a good portion. Without a job, you purchase a plan on the federal Marketplace with income-based subsidies. Low-income families are eligible for BadgerCare (the local Medicaid program).

BadgerCare is considered one of the best-managed state programs. Children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities have broad access. Coverage includes many categories of documented immigrants. Undocumented immigrants have access limited to emergencies and pregnancy care.

The main hospital systems are UW Health (Madison), Aurora Health Care (Milwaukee), Froedtert (Milwaukee), and ThedaCare (Fox Valley). The famous Mayo Clinic, in Rochester (Minnesota), serves many patients from western Wisconsin. A doctor's visit without insurance costs $150 to $300; an ER visit can exceed $2,500.

As in most Midwestern states, a car is essential in Wisconsin. Milwaukee has a bus network operated by MCTS, with reasonable coverage within the city. Madison has the Madison Metro bus service that covers the urban area and the university well, plus great bike infrastructure, making Madison one of the most cycling-friendly cities in the U.S.

Outside the two large cities, public transit is limited. Roads like I-94 (crossing the state east to west through Milwaukee and Madison) and I-43 (Milwaukee to Green Bay) are the main routes. In winter, roads can become dangerous with snow and ice, and some northern routes temporarily close.

The main airports are MKE (Milwaukee Mitchell International) and MSN (Dane County Regional, in Madison). MKE has some international flights to the Caribbean and Mexico, but for Europe or Asia a connection through Chicago O'Hare is necessary. Other smaller airports include GRB (Green Bay), ATW (Appleton), and EAU (Eau Claire).

In Wisconsin, American football is practically a religion, with the Green Bay Packers as the beloved team. It's the only NFL team owned by its fans, with more than 360,000 shareholders. Lambeau Field, in Green Bay, is treated like a temple. Attending a game in winter means facing subzero temperatures, but the stands never empty.

Cheese pride is taken seriously. Packers fans wear Cheeseheads (hats shaped like slices of cheese). Wisconsin produces more cheese than any other state and holds annual quality competitions. Beer goes with it: Milwaukee was home to Miller and Pabst, and today has dozens of craft breweries.

Ethnic festivals celebrate German (German Fest), Polish (Polish Fest), Italian, Irish, and Mexican heritage. Summerfest, in Milwaukee, is one of the largest music festivals in the world. The Supper Club culture, traditional restaurants with a fixed menu (fish on Fridays, prime rib on Saturdays, brandy old-fashioneds), is part of the local way of life. Bratwurst, sauerkraut, fish fry, and tater tots appear in nearly every spread.

Wisconsin is home to about 300,000 people born outside the United States, close to 5% of the population. Milwaukee holds most of the Hispanic immigration, with Mexicans concentrated in Walker's Point and the south side, where markets, bakeries, and tortillerias mix with Catholic churches and community centers. Wisconsin has one of the largest Hmong communities in the United States, the legacy of refugee resettlement after the Vietnam War, with hubs in Milwaukee, Wausau, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Sheboygan, and La Crosse, and Hmong temples, markets, and festivals in each. Madison draws immigrants tied to the university, with a Chinese, Indian, and Korean presence. Burmese, Somali, Syrian, and Congolese refugees have been resettled in Milwaukee, Madison, and Wausau, and African communities are growing in the north of the state.

The Consulate-General of Mexico in Milwaukee serves all of Wisconsin. Voces de la Frontera, based in Milwaukee, is one of the most active organizations in the country defending immigrant workers and runs a statewide chapter. The Hmong American Friendship Association serves Hmong families in Milwaukee. Catholic Charities of Milwaukee coordinates refugee resettlement. Centro Hispano of Dane County serves Hispanic families in Madison. Community clinics offer services in Spanish, Hmong, Burmese, and Arabic in the main cities.