DeForest is #1 in Wisconsin for new homes
DeForest is ranked on 36 lists against the 371 Wisconsin towns with 2,500+ residents. It makes the top 10 on 1 and the top quarter on 9.
A podium finish, and more
Each list ranks every WI town with 2,500+ residents. Tap one to see the whole list with DeForest marked.
DeForest lands in the top half on 13 of 22 lists
Each dot is DeForest’s spot on one list: the left end is #1 in WI, the right end is last. Areas where DeForest does best come first.
More kids than 87% of Wisconsin
Not better or worse, just DeForest’s character, from the lists where neither end is the “good” one. The most distinctive come first.
DeForest out-ranks 1 of its 2 ranked neighbors
Head to head on the lists where both towns are ranked: a point for each list where one town places higher. Tap a town for its own rankings.
Every WI list, and where DeForest lands
41 lists from Census, school, health, library, crime, climate and land data. Tap any list to see every town on it.
Housing
Vacation-home towns#1 Stephenson · 55.7%
#166
Most new homes#1 DeForest · 26.3 per 1,000
#1
Fastest-rising home prices#1 Algoma · +89.8%
#274
Housing hasn't kept up#1 Whitefish Bay · 31.3 per home
#64 
Health
Healthiest#1 Whitefish Bay · 98 / 100
#42
Lowest obesity#1 Mequon · 28%
#60
Fewest smokers#1 Whitefish Bay · 7%
#35
Most active#1 Whitefish Bay · 14%
#33
Fewest uninsured#1 Whitefish Bay · 4%
#39
Lowest depression#1 Brookfield · 19%
#289
Closest to a top hospital#1 Waukesha · 0.2 mi
#260 
People
Most educated#1 Whitefish Bay · 81.9%
#103
Youngest#1 Whitewater · 22.1
#146
R
Oldest#1 Rome · 64.5
#228
R
Most residents 65+#1 Rome · 48.1%
#291
Most kids#1 Arcadia · 37.7%
#50 Outdoors
Most conserved land#1 Brockway · 65.5%
#209
Most trails#1 Williams Bay · 3.5 mi / sq mi
#103
Most walkable#1 Whitefish Bay · 158 / sq mi
#142 Safety
Safest#1 Geneva · 2.6
#66 
Cost of living
Most affordable#1 Antigo · 1.4 yrs
#264
Cheapest rent#1 Bass Lake · $404/mo
#302
Lowest property tax#1 Stanley · $1,492/yr
#335
Rent easiest to afford#1 New Richmond · 20.8%
Getting around
Shortest commute#1 Hayward · 12.3 min
#295 
The number on the right is DeForest’s spot. All of Wisconsin’s rankings, with the map → · National lists and other states: all rankings.
Do the numbers ring true?
The lists count what can be counted. Neighbors know the rest.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
- 2,500+ residents. Census estimates for smaller towns carry margins of error too wide to rank fairly, so they sit out every WI list.
- One town, one row. A city that is both a city and a town in Census data, or a village inside a town, is counted once.
- Ties share a rank. Towns on one weather station, one school district or one CDC estimate share a figure, so they share a spot (T).
- No “worst” lists. Lists rank toward the good end, and share cards are made only for the top half. Age, snow and the like are character, not grades.
U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, 2010 and 2020 censuses, Building Permits Survey), U.S. Department of Education, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, CDC PLACES, Medicare Care Compare, IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FHFA House Price Index, NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. Each list explains its own method.