Study: Most Stressful Cities in Wisconsin

The idyllic rolling hillsides, serene lakes, and picturesque dairy farms of Wisconsin make a good cover for the stress that the state is hiding. The Midwestern state known for its cheese and football may not be the usual suspect when it comes to stress, but like anywhere else, its residents face a number of daily obstacles, ranging from long commutes to high housing costs. Some residents have to deal with these stresses more than others. The CreditDonkey team did some investigating to find out which cities in “America's Dairyland” are the most stressful in the state.

Study Methodology

We gave each city in Wisconsin a ranking in the five measures below, then calculated an average based on their scores in each category. The 10 most stressful cities in Wisconsin had the highest average scores because of the combination of these stressful factors:

1. Odds of being a victim of violent crime
   
2. Commute time
   
3. Average hours worked per week
   
4. Percentage of divorcees
   
5. Percentage of income spent on housing

The first factor we took into consideration was each city’s violent crime rate, taken from FBI statistics. The more dangerous the city, the more uptight and nervous its residents are prone to be. Living in a safer and friendlier city means that residents can breathe a little easier as they go about their daily life.

Next we looked at U.S. Census data to find out how hard residents of each city are working and how long their daily commute is. At its best, work can be a source of satisfaction and pride, but at its worst, it can be downright stressful, especially if you’re spending more hours at the office than with your loved ones. It’s even worse if you have to commute a long distance to and from work each day.

Although it’s difficult to admit, our romantic partners can sometimes be a major source of stress in our lives, especially when the relationship is coming to an end. We looked at the percentage of divorcees in each city to see which city’s residents may have experienced marital stress in their past.

Finally, we looked at the percentage of income that residents spend on housing costs, be it for rent or mortgage. Because housing takes up such a large portion of our monthly expenditures, it’s a good indicator of the state of locals’ finances at the end of the month. The higher the percentage residents spend on housing, the less money they have in their wallets at the end of the month, which is always a bad thing.

10 Most Stressful Cities in Wisconsin

10. Milwaukee

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 77.3 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 21.9 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 36.7
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 9.8% of males, 11.6% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 28.8%

Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, is sometimes known as the “biggest small town in America” because of its characteristic Midwest charm. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee possesses a healthy mix of natural beauty and big city amenities, like its diverse neighborhoods, local foodie culture, and thriving music scene. The only down side to living in “Brew City” is that the big city ambience comes at a price - big city stress. Milwaukee residents work a meager 36.7 hours a week on average, indicating that many are underemployed and don’t earn a full-time salary. That fact is also reflected in the high percentage of income that residents spend on housing, which is higher than all of the other cities in our study. If money and housing stress weren’t enough, safety is also probably a major concern of Milwaukee locals. The chances of becoming a victim of violent crime are 1 in 77.3 inhabitants, the highest crime rate on our list.

Did you know: There’s nothing like downing a cold one after a stressful day, and Milwaukee residents are at an advantage living in the “Brew City.” Milwaukee was once called the beer capital of the world because it was home to so many breweries. Brenner Brewing Co, the historic Pabst Brewery, and the Miller Brewing Company are just some of the breweries that are based in Milwaukee.

9. Beloit

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 311 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 21.6 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 36.8
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 11.8% of males, 16% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 24.9%

The city of Beloit sits just north of the Wisconsin-Illinois border near the junction of two highways, which is how it came to be known as the “Gateway to Wisconsin.” Beloit is a small city of just 17.7 square miles, but it’s conveniently located about an hour away from Milwaukee and Madison, and two-three hours away from Chicago. Beloit may not be a bustling city like Milwaukee, but residents experience a number of stressors in their daily lives. Like Milwaukee, many Beloit residents are underemployed and only work 36.8 hours a week. Luckily, our numbers show that residents probably don’t stress too much about crime, traffic, or housing costs, but relationship stress seems to be quite high among Beloit’s female population. 16% of women are divorced in Beloit, giving it the distinction of having the highest percentage of divorced women on our list. Work and relationship problems are the two factors that earned Beloit its place on our list of stressful cities.

Did you know: Painting can be a great way to relax and express yourself. Beloit hosts an annual Plein Air art event in June on the edge of the Rock River. “Plein air” is a French term referring to painting in the “open air” a la Claude Monet. Artists come from all over to paint the local scenery and exhibit their work.

8. West Allis

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 318.7 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 21.3 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 38
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 12.7% of males, 11.9% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 23.7%

West Allis is a small suburb located just west of Milwaukee. The city owes its name to the Allis-Chalmers manufacturing plant, which moved from its factory in Milwaukee to what was then called North Greenfield. It was incorporated as West Allis in 1906. The city may live somewhat in Milwaukee’s shadow, but it gained recognition from Business Week as a runner-up in its list of the “Best Places to Raise Your Kids” in past years. Our data corroborates the study – with a crime rate of 1 in 318.7 residents and low housing costs in relation to the local median income, West Allis is safe and affordable. However, its score in one specific category indicates that some people didn’t find their happily ever after their first time around. 12.7% of men are divorced in West Allis, which is the highest percentage of male divorcees in our study. West Allis may be a great place to raise children, but marital bliss isn’t guaranteed.

Did you know: One person who reportedly experienced “extreme tension” during his upbringing in West Allis is the notorious serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer, also known as the “Milwaukee Cannibal.” He was diagnosed with having borderline personality disorder and was responsible for the murder of 17 people.

7. Elkhorn

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 1,690.7 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 22.9 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 38.7
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 11.2% of males, 13.8% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 22.4%

At first glance, the small city of Elkhorn in Walworth County may seem like an inconspicuous Midwestern town. With a population of just over 10,000 residents, it’s quaint, safe, affordable, and picturesque. In fact, Elkhorn is the very definition of picturesque. It earned its nickname “The Christmas Card Town” because an artist painted scenes of daily life in Elkhorn for the Ford Times magazine, which were then reprinted as Christmas cards. Despite its small-town ambience, life in Elkhorn is anything but slow-paced and relaxed. Our data shows that residents may experience stress from their 22.9-minute commute that they endure every morning, as well as the relatively long work hours that they put in at their jobs. Residents work on average 38.7 hours weekly, and while that amount may not seem like much, it’s higher than what residents of many other cities in our study work each week.

Did you know: Elkhorn hosts the annual Walworth County Fair, which is one of the biggest county fairs in the Midwest. Visitors can unwind by watching the demolition derby, participate in the Cooking with Corn Challenge, or indulge in a pickle on a stick.

6. Racine

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 211.4 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 20.9 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 37.7
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 11.3% of males, 14.9% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 25.6%

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, the small city of Racine is an old manufacturing town that is rich in history, culture, and innovation. Many of Racine’s historic buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s also home to the SC Johnson headquarters, designed by the celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright. As the county seat of Racine County and one of the largest cities in the area, Racine residents deal with a number of stressful problems that their rural neighbors may not experience. For a city of its size, its violent crime rate is relatively high, and definitely higher than most of the cities in our study. A recent study by Realestate.com found that some of the cheapest housing in Wisconsin can be found in Racine, but our numbers show that local wages aren’t keeping up. Residents spend 25.6% of their income on housing costs, the second highest percentage on our list. Racine also came in second in another category - the percentage of divorced women. 14.9% of women in Racine are divorced, indicating that many may still be recovering from a stressful romantic past.

Did you know: The city of Racine is no stranger to tension. At one point in history, it was the source of conflict between the Wisconsin State Legislature and the U.S. Supreme Court. Racine opposed slavery well before the Civil War and had many stops along the Underground Railroad. When an escaped slave named Joshua Glover was arrested by federal marshals in 1854, 100 men from Racine and thousands of other Wisconsin residents broke him out of jail.

5. Kenosha

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 364.9 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 23.5 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 37.6
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 10.7% of males, 14.6% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 24.3%

Kenosha is situated on the southeast corner of Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan. It’s conveniently located between Milwaukee and Chicago, making it a bedroom community for both cities. In the past it was known for its booming automobile industry, but with the decline in manufacturing, Kenosha has instead capitalized on its lakeside location and beautiful scenery to increase tourism to the area. Kenosha sits comfortably in the middle of our list, ranking neither high nor low in our study’s measures. Its crime rate and average commute time are within the median range, and the hours that residents work, just 37.6 hours a week, is relatively low. However, its relatively high percentage of divorced women and cost of housing in relation to the local income indicates that money and romance may be problematic for some residents in Kenosha.

Did you know: The recent Ebola scare has got everyone on edge, and the Kenosha County Jail had a close encounter in early October. A Liberian woman was detained at the O’Hare International Airport by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and taken to the Kenosha County Jail. Although she didn’t exhibit any symptoms, she was still isolated and closely monitored by nurses before she was deported back to Liberia.

4. Greenfield

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 698.1 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 22.7 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 39.1
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 12% of males, 13.6% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 21.4%

Just a 14-minute drive southwest of Milwaukee sits a small community named Greenfield. The suburb nearly ceased to exist until it was incorporated in 1957, which made it the last city in the county to incorporate. Prior to its incorporation, other municipalities were slowly annexing its land until the city of Milwaukee attempted to annex the city completely. Because of this, Greenfield is only 1/3 of its original size, despite its growing population. Its bad luck has continued to the present day, as shown by the daily stress that many residents experience. Although there are a number of factors that make Greenfield less stressful than other cities in our study, such as the low crime rate, short daily commute, and relatively cheap housing, other factors may cause problems for Greenfield residents. Greenfield is home to a high percentage of divorcees of both genders, a sign that romantic relationships may be causing some residents distress. Greenfield locals also work the longest hours out of all the cities on our list, making them the hardest working Wisconsinites in our study. At least those long hours at the office pay off, as they also spend the lowest percentage of their income on housing.

Did you know: One Greenfield resident understood performance pressure better than anybody else. Olympic gold medalist and speed skater Dan Jansen was from Greenfield and had a local park named after him.

3. Portage

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 493.4 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 24.4 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 37.8
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 10.2% of males, 15.5% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 25%

Portage is a quaint historic town in southern Wisconsin, about 40 miles north of Madison. The city owes its name to its role as an important transport point between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, where travelers were forced to carry their goods from one river to the other. It was used throughout the Black Hawk War and its aftermath, when settlers came to stake their claim on cheap land, until it became a town in its own right. Locals boast that it’s a clean, safe, and family-friendly town that’s rich in history and natural beauty, but our data shows that they have their work cut out for them when it comes to stress. Being a small town, one would think that residents wouldn’t have to endure long commutes like its big city neighbors, but locals spend on average 24.4 minutes sitting in traffic each morning. If that wasn’t enough, residents also spend a sizeable portion of their income on housing costs. The high percentage of divorced women also indicates that marital stress is relatively high among the female population. Traffic, money worries, and relationship problems probably weigh heavy on locals’ minds in the city of Portage.

Did you know: The stress of modern life can be overwhelming, but for those who want to return to simpler times, they can visit an Amish community to the northeast of Portage.

2. Hudson

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 2,141.3 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 24.7 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 38.9
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 10.4% of males, 12.5% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 23.9%

If Beloit is the “Gateway to Wisconsin” for those traveling north, then the historic city of Hudson is the western gateway. Located about fifteen minutes from St. Paul, Minnesota, Hudson is actually part of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, despite being located in Wisconsin. It’s a major retail center for St. Croix County and the fastest growing city in Wisconsin. Something must be attracting residents to put down roots in Hudson, and our data suggests that residents pay dearly for the privilege of living in the scenic river town. Residents devote a lot of time to their professional lives and endure the longest daily commute on our list. In total, residents work 38.9 hours a week and spend four hours in traffic getting to and from work, which doesn’t bode well for their personal lives or stress levels.

Did you know: Residents of Hudson don’t have to worry about the St. Croix River being changed or destroyed any time soon. Congress designated it as a National Scenic Riverway in 1972, ensuring its protection for future generations.

1. Burlington

• Odds of being a victim of violent crime: 1 in 655.6 inhabitants
  
• Commute time: 24.5 minutes
  
• Average hours worked per week: 37.9
  
• Percentage of divorcees: 12.1% of males, 13.5% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 24.5%

Burlington, a close neighbor to Racine in southeast Wisconsin, has the distinction of being named one of the top small towns in Wisconsin by Milwaukee Magazine in recent years. Its rural, small-town vibe makes it an unlikely candidate for the most stressful city in Wisconsin, but our study revealed that not even rural communities like Burlington are exempt from stress. For one thing, Burlington is home to a high percentage of divorcees who have experienced the emotional stress of a relationship gone wrong. Another factor that’s bound to cause some tension is the long daily commute that residents endure each day, which is surprising given that Burlington is only 7.8 square miles. The high cost of housing in relation to the local income is another indication that residents may find themselves overwhelmed at the end of the month. Romantic relationships, traffic, and financial problems are what gave this quaint city its #1 ranking as the most stressful city in Wisconsin.

Did you know: Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is a well-known stress reliever because it reduces the body’s production of the stress hormone, cortisol. Burlington residents can get their chocolate fix at the annual Chocolate Festival, Chocolate Experience Museum, and Nestle Chocolate Factory.

The state of Wisconsin has a lot to offer to visitors and residents alike, but one should be aware of the pros and cons of each city. From its hip urban centers to its rural small towns, stress is bound to be experienced at some time, but is definitely more prevalent in our 10 cities. For residents of the above cities who are hoping to eliminate the stress in their lives, hopefully our study helped illuminate the source of their problem.