U.S. News Real Estate has announced its list of the Best Places to live in 2025 and 2026. For the state of Wisconsin, Waukesha came in third place, falling right behind first place’s Eau Claire and second place’s Appleton. Waukesha was ranked at number 87 on a national scale. Waukesha was the only city from Waukesha County that landed on the ranking, with the nearest other city to crack the top ten was Janesville, who landed in eighth place.
Waukesha received a score of 6.3 out of 10 in U.S. News’s ranking system. The score is determined through careful examination of various data about the average lifestyle in a community. For example, the cost of living is an important factor. In Waukesha, the general value of a home is about $316,000, which is below the national average of $370,000. This gives the city a slightly lower value index rating of 4.5 out of 10.
Other factors involved in ranking a city include weather, average commute time, and the job market. Waukesha’s midwestern location means that it experiences a varied climate, that sees the highs and lows of all four seasons. On average, summers are about seventy degrees and winters are about twenty-four degrees. Fall and spring are usually around forty-five degrees. The lack of severe weather events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis provide an added benefit to residents as well. The average commute time is about nineteen minutes, which is three minutes less than the national average. Finally, the job market received a 6.1 out of 10 on U.S. News’ index. The median household income is about $85,000, which puts it above the national average of $79,000. Further, there is a lower unemployment rate, with Waukesha having a 3.4% rate compared to the national 4.5%.
The national list of best places to live saw Johns Creek in Georgia at the top of its list. Johns Creek raked in a 7 out of 10 overall score. Both Waukesha and Johns Creek have similar sizes populations, with Waukesha having 71,000 residents and Johns Creek having 78,000. Most notable, Johns Creek had a significantly higher median household income of $163,000. The national city list ranked Carmel, Indiana in second place and Pearland, Texas in third place. Carmel’s median household income was $146,000, meaning that Johns Creek had a wide income gap between it and the runner up, Carmel.
Waukesha has a lot to be proud of. Beyond what can be shown via data, it has fabulous businesses, great culture, and a strong sense of community. Those living in Waukesha don’t need a list to tell them what they already know- Their city is something special.
