Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Census place 5588200 · pop 18,722

D55/ 100
😐 Meh
F
in WI
📍 Wisconsin ranks #7 of 50 states →
🏆 Rent$1,054/mo · top 5%
🚽 Prop tax1.81% · bottom 15%
Taxes
1.81% 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 burden1.81%15

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

1.81% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Adult obesity40.9%15

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

40.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Bachelor's degree or higher18.1%17

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

18.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Median household income$55,25320

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

$55,253 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Adult smoking16.7%21

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

16.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Physical inactivity30.8%22

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

30.8% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Broadband access88.3%28

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

88.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Homeownership56.1%28

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

56.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poverty rate14.8%35

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

14.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Uninsured adults9.2%53

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

9.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Poor mental health16.7%56

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

16.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Population growth (5yr)+5.4%65

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

+5.4% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Income inequality0.4170

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).

Commute time20 min75

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

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

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.1%75

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

3.1% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level60/10083

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

60/100 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.

Housing cost$131,90090

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

$131,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Rent$1,054/mo95

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

$1,054/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Not measured for Wisconsin Rapids: Crime, Air, Bad air, 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 Wisconsin Rapids, WI a good place to live?
By the numbers, Wisconsin Rapids scores 55/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent 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 Wisconsin Rapids, WI expensive to live in?
Wisconsin Rapids has a median home value of $131,900 and typical rent around $1,054/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Wisconsin Rapids, WI?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (1.81%) — 15/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Wisconsin Rapids, WI best at?
Its strongest measured area is rent ($1,054/mo) — 95/100, better than most U.S. cities.

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