Kenosha 84 Exceptional
Kenosha Livability #31 ranked city in Wisconsin#680 ranked city in the USARanks better than 97% of areas
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Kenosha, WI - The Gateway to Wisconsin

Kenosha, WI, known as 'The Gateway to Wisconsin,' offers a unique blend of lakeside charm and modern urban amenities. Located in Kenosha County, Kenosha is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Milwaukee (40 miles) and Chicago (66 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Kenosha's blend of scenic landscapes, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.

Kenosha is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Kenosha Public Museum, the historic Southport Light Station Museum, and the scenic Petrifying Springs Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Dinosaur Discovery Museum to the bustling Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets, known for its shopping and dining. Kenosha's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Midwestern cuisine to international dishes.

Annual events such as the Kenosha HarborMarket and the Peanut Butter & Jam Concert Series highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Kenosha's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like the University of Wisconsin-Parkside contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.

The arts and culture scene in Kenosha is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Rhode Center for the Arts and the Kenosha Symphony Orchestra are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Kenosha provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.

Kenosha’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Kenosha Kingfish (baseball) and the Milwaukee Brewers (MLB) in nearby Milwaukee, providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Kenosha include manufacturing, healthcare, and education, with significant employers such as Snap-on Tools and Froedtert South driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and commuter trains, making it easy to navigate the area. The weather in Kenosha features cold winters and warm summers, perfect for a variety of outdoor activities year-round.

Pros and Cons of Living in Kenosha

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Local residents have positive feedback regarding the convenience of amenities, parks, public transit, the friendliness of neighbors, the strong sense of community, and the overall safety of the area.

CONS
  • Nothing Found Nothing Found

    This area did not exhibit any cons, as none of the categories were rated low enough.

What's it like Living in Kenosha?

Kenosha is a medium-sized city located in the state of Wisconsin. The city has a population of 102,872 people. In Kenosha, there are 3,709 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. According to the most recent Census, 77% of Kenosha residents are White, 11% Black and 2% Asian. Kenosha is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 48% married, this city falls well below the national average. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Kenosha is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 24 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.

Without the right tools, relocating to any new area can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Kenosha, Wisconsin could be a good experience for anyone who puts in the effort to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. Finding the best places to live in Kenosha and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, cost of living, commute, employment, housing and other important metrics.

Using data and statistics Kenosha has received a livability score of 82 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 96th percentile when compared to all other cities. Pack your bags! This is a very high score in comparison to other US cities. Living in Kenosha could be a great choice! Kenosha has also earned the rare honor of ranking in the top 10 percentile among all cities. There are nine total categories that generate the livability score. Kenosha scores well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+)

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Kenosha has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Assuming that Kenosha meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Kenosha. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Kenosha are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Kenosha come in at $292,806, which is 2.8% lower than the Wisconsin average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Kenosha, the home price to income ratio is 3.5, which is 5.4% lower than the Wisconsin average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Kenosha

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Kenosha?

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      Kenosha transportation information

      Statistic Kenosha Wisconsin National
      Average one way commute24min22min26min
      Workers who drive to work83.9%80.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.0%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit1.4%1.9%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.3%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.8%3.3%2.8%
      Working from home3.8%4.2%4.6%
      Source: The Kenosha, 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.