If you’re looking at a map of the Badger State, it’s easy to think everything stays the same. The cheese is still sharp, the Packers are still the religion of choice, and the lakes are still cold. But the actual data behind cities of wisconsin by population tells a much more chaotic story lately. People are moving. They’re leaving some of the industrial giants and flocking to the tech hubs or the quiet suburbs. It’s not just a list of names; it’s a snapshot of where the state is heading.
Honestly, Milwaukee is still the big fish in the pond, but the gap is closing. Slowly. Madison is basically the "overachiever" of the group, growing at a rate that makes other Midwestern cities look like they’re standing still.
You’ve probably heard people complain about the traffic in Dane County or the "brain drain" in smaller northern towns. There's some truth to it. Let’s look at what the numbers actually look like right now in early 2026.
The Heavyweights: Milwaukee and Madison
Milwaukee remains the largest city in Wisconsin by a landslide. As of 2026, the city population is hovering around 563,531. It’s down from the 2020 census figures, continuing a slight downward trend that’s been happening for a while. Why? It’s complicated. Some of it is the "donut effect"—people moving out of the city center into the surrounding "WOW" counties (Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington). Even though the city proper is smaller, the metro area is actually growing, hitting about 1.48 million people this year.
Then you have Madison. It’s the second-largest city and the absolute powerhouse of the state right now. While Milwaukee shrinks a bit, Madison is surging. The 2026 estimates put Madison at roughly 285,300 people.
It’s growing at nearly 1.5% a year. If you live there, you know this means two things: higher rent and a lot more cranes in the sky. Between the University of Wisconsin and the massive Epic Systems campus nearby in Verona, the "Isthmus" is basically bursting at the seams.
Cities of Wisconsin by Population: The 100,000 Club
There is a weird psychological barrier at the 100,000 mark. Right now, only three cities officially sit above it.
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Green Bay is the third largest, with about 106,311 people. It’s steady. It doesn’t see the wild swings Madison does. It’s a blue-collar town that has successfully diversified its economy beyond just paper and football.
Kenosha is the "maybe" city. For years, it flirted with 100,000, and it technically hit it in the 2020 census. But the most recent 2026 data shows it dipped just below to 99,578. It’s basically a suburb of both Milwaukee and Chicago at this point. People live there for the lower taxes and commute to the bigger cities.
- Milwaukee: 563,531
- Madison: 285,300
- Green Bay: 106,311
- Kenosha: 99,578 (The "on the edge" city)
- Racine: 77,742
The Battle for the Mid-Sized Spots
This is where the list gets interesting. For a long time, Racine was the undisputed #5. But Racine has been losing people for decades. It’s currently at 77,742.
Meanwhile, Appleton is breathing down its neck. Appleton is at 75,861 and growing fast. The Fox Valley is one of the most economically stable parts of the state. It’s got a weirdly high quality of life for its size.
Then there’s the big swap. For years, Waukesha was bigger than Eau Claire. Not anymore.
As of this year, Eau Claire has officially jumped to the #7 spot with 72,587 residents. Waukesha has slipped to #8 at 71,305. Eau Claire’s growth is driven by a massive investment in its downtown and a thriving arts scene that people are starting to call the "Portland of the Midwest," which sounds a bit dramatic, but the growth is real.
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Why Some Cities Are Shrinking (And Others Aren't)
It basically comes down to jobs and age. Cities like Milwaukee and Racine have older industrial roots. When those factories changed or moved, the population followed.
On the flip side, "College Towns" and "Tech Hubs" are winning.
- Fitchburg (near Madison) is growing like crazy.
- Sun Prairie is practically a different city than it was ten years ago.
- Hudson and River Falls are exploding because they are essentially bedroom communities for the Twin Cities in Minnesota.
If a city is near a major university or a hospital system, it’s probably growing. If it relies on a single paper mill or a 1950s-era factory, it’s likely struggling to keep its 20-somethings.
The Full Top 10 List (2026 Estimates)
Since lists help make sense of the chaos, here is the current order of the biggest cities in the state.
- Milwaukee: 563,531
- Madison: 285,300
- Green Bay: 106,311
- Kenosha: 99,578
- Racine: 77,742
- Appleton: 75,861
- Eau Claire: 72,587
- Waukesha: 71,305
- Oshkosh: 66,854
- Janesville: 66,070
Janesville and Oshkosh are basically neck-and-neck. It only takes a few new apartment complexes to swap those rankings around.
The "Invisible" Growth in the Suburbs
Wait. We can't just talk about cities.
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A lot of the population "loss" in places like Milwaukee isn't actually people leaving the state. They're just moving ten miles west. Look at Brookfield or Franklin. These aren't tiny villages anymore. Brookfield is sitting at over 41,000 people. Menomonee Falls has climbed to 38,527.
If you combined all the suburbs of Milwaukee, you'd have a massive metropolis. But because Wisconsin loves its local municipal boundaries, the "City" population looks smaller than the "Metro" reality.
What This Means for You
If you’re looking to move to Wisconsin or invest in property, the population trends are your roadmap.
Madison is the safest bet for growth, but you’ll pay for it. Home prices there are significantly higher than the state average. If you want growth but more affordability, the Fox Valley (Appleton/Neenah) or Eau Claire are the "sweet spots" right now.
Milwaukee is still the cultural and economic heart. Don’t let the slight population dip fool you. The city is seeing a massive influx of young professionals in neighborhoods like Bay View and the Third Ward. The people leaving are often families looking for more space, but the "urban core" is actually more vibrant than it's been in years.
Actionable Insights for 2026:
- Keep an eye on Eau Claire. Its climb to the #7 spot isn't a fluke; it's the result of a decade of aggressive urban renewal.
- Watch the 100k mark. Kenosha will likely cross back over 100,000 by 2027 as more people flee the high costs of northern Illinois.
- Madison's density. Expect more high-rise development. The city literally has nowhere else to go because it's built on an isthmus between two lakes.
- The Fox Cities. This area (Appleton, Neenah, Menasha) functions like one giant city of 250,000+ people even though they are technically separate. It's the "hidden" third-largest market in the state.
Understanding the cities of wisconsin by population isn't just about counting heads. It's about seeing where the money is going, where the schools are getting crowded, and where the next big opportunity is hiding in the Badger State.
Check the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) or the latest census bureau "quick facts" if you need the hyper-local granular data for a specific village, but for the big picture, these trends are the ones defining the state this year.