Beaver Dam, WI

Census place 5505900 · pop 16,565

D59/ 100
😐 Meh
D
in WI
📍 Wisconsin ranks #7 of 50 states →
🏆 Jobs2.4% · top 4%
🚽 Obesity41.5% · bottom 12%
Taxes
1.75% property · US 0.99%5.72% sales · US 7.00%up to 7.65% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Adult obesity41.5%12

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

41.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Property-tax burden1.75%16

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.75% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Broadband access88.1%26

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

88.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Homeownership55.3%26

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

55.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Physical inactivity27.9%35

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

27.9% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Bachelor's degree or higher25.1%38

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

25.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Median household income$66,67339

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$66,673 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Population growth (5yr)+1.3%39

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

+1.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Commute time25 min45

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

25 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Adult smoking13.6%47

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

13.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Uninsured adults9.0%55

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

9.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Poverty rate8.9%63

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

8.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Poor mental health15.9%67

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

15.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Housing cost$201,90071

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$201,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Air quality (AQI)County-level38 AQI77

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

38 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level67/10078

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

67/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Rent$1,362/mo78

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,362/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Income inequality0.3791

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.37 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.4%96

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

2.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Beaver Dam: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Beaver Dam, WI a good place to live?
By the numbers, Beaver Dam scores 59/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unemployment rate and its weakest is adult obesity. Wisconsin overall ranks #7 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Beaver Dam, WI expensive to live in?
Beaver Dam has a median home value of $201,900 and typical rent around $1,362/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Beaver Dam, WI?
Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (41.5%) — 12/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Beaver Dam, WI best at?
Its strongest measured area is unemployment rate (2.4%) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.