Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Wisconsin instead of Kentucky, you would:
Health
live 4.2 years longer
In Kentucky, the average life expectancy is 74 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In Wisconsin, that number is 78 years (77 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2020.
be 22.7% less likely to have diabetes
In Kentucky, 11.9% of adults have diabetes as of 2022. In Wisconsin, that number is 9.2% as of 2022.
Economy
make 18.3% more money
Kentucky has a GDP per capita of $50,135 as of 2024, while in Wisconsin, the GDP per capita is $59,333 as of 2024.
be 14.3% less likely to be unemployed
In Kentucky, 3.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Wisconsin, that number is 3.0% as of 2025.
be 33.8% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Kentucky, 15.4% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Wisconsin, however, that number is 10.2% as of 2023.
Safety
be 21.0% less likely to be a victim of property crime
Kentucky has a property crime rate of 1,525 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Wisconsin, that number is 1,204 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 29.6% more likely to be a victim of violent crime
Kentucky has a violent crime rate of 220 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Wisconsin, that number is 286 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
earn 21.2% more money
The median household income in Kentucky is $62,417 as of 2023, while in Wisconsin, it is $75,670 as of 2023.
pay 28.7% more for a home
The median home value in Kentucky is $192,300 as of 2023, compared to $247,400 in Wisconsin as of 2023.
pay 12.0% more in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Kentucky is $933 as of 2023, while in Wisconsin, it is $1,045 as of 2023.
Lifestyle
commute 1.8 minutes less
The average one-way commute in Kentucky takes 24.0 minutes as of 2023. In Wisconsin, it takes 22.2 minutes as of 2023.
be 13.9% less likely to smoke
In Kentucky, 18.7% of adults smoke as of 2022. In Wisconsin, that number is 16.1% as of 2022.
be 16.7% less likely to be physically inactive
In Kentucky, 25.8% of adults are physically inactive as of 2022. In Wisconsin, that number is 21.5% as of 2022.
be 23.9% more likely to have a bachelor's degree
In Kentucky, 18.0% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher as of 2023. In Wisconsin, that number is 22.3% as of 2023.
be 42.9% less likely to be food insecure
In Kentucky, 12.6% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In Wisconsin, that number is 7.2% as of 2021.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
