DeForest, WI

Census place 5519350 · pop 11,501

C67/ 100
👍 Solid
B
in WI
📍 Wisconsin ranks #7 of 50 states →
🏆 Jobs2.2% · top 1%
🚽 Prop tax1.60% · bottom 22%
Taxes
1.60% 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

Property-tax burden1.60%22

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

1.60% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Commute time26 min35

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

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

Housing cost$359,60036

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

$359,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level91/10046

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

91/100 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.

Adult obesity34.2%54

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

34.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Air quality (AQI)County-level42 AQI57

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

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

Rent$1,603/mo61

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

$1,603/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Income inequality0.4167

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.41 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Adult smoking11.3%70

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

11.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Bachelor's degree or higher41.7%71

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

41.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Physical inactivity20.6%75

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

20.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poor mental health15.1%77

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

15.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Median household income$106,41980

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

$106,419 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Poverty rate5.7%82

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

5.7% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Homeownership77.9%82

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

77.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Uninsured adults6.1%84

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

6.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

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.

Population growth (5yr)+13.0%86

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

+13.0% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Broadband access96.4%89

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

96.4% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.2%99

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

2.2% 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 DeForest: 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 DeForest, WI a good place to live?
By the numbers, DeForest scores 67/100 — a C (Solid) 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 property-tax burden. 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 DeForest, WI expensive to live in?
DeForest has a median home value of $359,600 and typical rent around $1,603/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in DeForest, WI?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (1.60%) — 22/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is DeForest, WI best at?
Its strongest measured area is unemployment rate (2.2%) — 99/100, 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.