Janesville 77 Exceptional
Janesville Livability #103 ranked city in Wisconsin#2,743 ranked city in the USARanks better than 90% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Janesville

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.

  • Crime Crime

    This area is characterized by a crime rate, per 100,000 individuals, that falls well below the national average, indicating its potential as a very safe place to live.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.

CONS
  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

What's it like Living in Janesville?

Janesville, Wisconsin is a medium-sized city with a population of 66,492 inhabitants. If we look at the most recent Census, Janesville is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian.

Living in Janesville can be a great experience for anyone relocating to the area. Having said that, in the state of Wisconsin, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, health & safety, education, you can easily compare the best places to live in Janesville and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Janesville to Wisconsin and the national average.

Janesville has a livability score of 77/100 and is ranked #94 in Wisconsin and #2,616 in the USA. Compared to the United States average, Janesville ranks among some of the best places to live in the country! Janesville has also earned the rare honor of ranking in the top 10 percentile among all cities. For each of the livability categories, we know that Janesville ranks very well for crime (B+), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). The bad news for Janesville, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (D).

Crime rates can be the deciding factor for anyone looking to relocate to a new area, as the result is often a greater level of safety and security as well as an improved quality of life. Janesville gets top scores for their low violent crime rates of 143 crimes per 100,000 residents, which are significantly lower than the national average.

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Janesville apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Janesville real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Janesville. Median real estate prices in Janesville come in at $266,778, which is 11.4% lower than the Wisconsin average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Janesville, the home price to income ratio is 3.2, which is 13.5% lower than the Wisconsin average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Janesville

See all the best places to live around Janesville

How Do You Rate The Livability In Janesville?

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Compare Janesville, WI Livability

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      Janesville transportation information

      Statistic Janesville Wisconsin National
      Average one way commute22min22min26min
      Workers who drive to work83.5%80.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.4%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.9%1.9%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.3%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.6%3.3%2.8%
      Working from home4.6%4.2%4.6%
      Source: The Janesville, WI data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.