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Racine, WI

Industry and trades · Manufacturing and construction jobs 1.8x the U.S. share

Tichigan is part of the Racine area. This page covers the whole metro.

What kind of place it is

Historic, Outdoorsy, Lively

Scored the same way as the quiz, against 382 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Racine scores 70 or higher out of 100.

Historic
89 / 100
12 places on the National Register of Historic Places nearby
Outdoorsy
85 / 100
Outdoorsy: more trails, campgrounds and paddling spots than most
Lively
79 / 100
Lively: about 77 bars, music venues and restaurants per 100,000 people
Want to know how Racine fits you? The 3-minute quiz checks it against what you want.
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Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

Around Racine

The Racine Art Museum in Racine , Wisconsin ( United States )
The Racine Art Museum in Racine , Wisconsin ( United States ) · Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Racine City Hall in Racine , Wisconsin ( United States )
Racine City Hall in Racine , Wisconsin ( United States ) · Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Aerial view of Wind Point Lighthouse, Wisconsin, US
Aerial view of Wind Point Lighthouse, Wisconsin, US · Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0
Racine, Wisconsin - Main Street
Racine, Wisconsin - Main Street · Photo: Racine2020, CC BY-SA 4.0
Monument Square overlooking the Johnson's Financial Building and the Racine Art Museum
Monument Square overlooking the Johnson's Financial Building and the Racine Art Museum · Photo: Racine2020, CC BY-SA 4.0
Racine Depot in September 2012
Racine Depot in September 2012 · Photo: Andrew J Peterman, CC BY-SA 3.0
Racine Zoo, Racine, Wisconsin, USA
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Where it is
Racine
Racine in Wisconsin
Wisconsin in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of the center of the Racine area.

19
grocery stores
94
restaurants
9
coffee shops
108
parks
120
playgrounds
1
library
4
live theaters
4
museums
4
bookstores
2
gyms
26
bars
9
pharmacies
3
hospitals

None found within 5 miles: movie theaters.

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of the Racine area.

Bike lanes and bike paths
59 miles
more than almost all U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
78 miles
more than most U.S. towns

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

What rent costs

Of about 22,199 rented homes in the Racine area, 97% rent for under $2,000 a month and 100% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 48%
$1,000 to $1,499: 40%
$1,500 to $1,999: 9%
$2,000 to $2,499: 2%
$2,500 to $2,999: 0%
$3,000 or more: 0%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in the Racine area rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $2,000 to $2,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $3,000 to $4,497 where landlords also ask for last month.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,000 to $1,499, that's a yearly income of about $36,000 to $53,964.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to Wisconsin: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Wisconsin DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: Wisconsin voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Public schools

12 public school districts in this county, with about 24,918 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Racine Unified School District · Racine
16,182 students · 12 students per teacher · 26 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Burlington Area School District · Burlington
2,922 students · 14.1 students per teacher · 7 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Waterford Graded J1 School District · Waterford
1,464 students · 13.3 students per teacher · 4 schools · grades Pre-K to 8
Union Grove Uhs School District · Union Grove
1,045 students · 17.4 students per teacher · 1 school · grades 9 to 12
Waterford Uhs School District · Waterford
954 students · 13.6 students per teacher · 1 school · grades 9 to 12

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

Wisconsin keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Typical full-time prices in this county (2022)
AgeDaycare centerHome daycare
Infant (under 2)$293/week
about $15,200 a year
$220/week
about $11,400 a year
Toddler (2)$259/week
about $13,500 a year
Preschool (3 to 4)$259/week
about $13,500 a year
$200/week
about $10,400 a year
School-age$205/week
about $10,700 a year

For an infant at a center: $293/week here, $257 across WI, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 17% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.

U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022. Middle (median) price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures average the county prices, weighted by population (Census 2024).
Search licensed childcare in Wisconsin →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
The facts behind it
Typical home value
$315,026
What a typical home sells for across the Racine area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026
Cost of living
About 4% below the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $96 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 96 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Average commute
24 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Data centers nearby
1 within 15 miles
The nearest is about 11.4 miles from the town center. The largest is about 9,000 sq ft.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL), loaded July 2026
Homeowners insurance
About $1,812 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in WI. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
3 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
17.1 per 100,000 people a year
34 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. WI average: 16.1 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 9.7 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 193 people without housing in the Racine City & County area: 180 in shelters and 13 outside, down from 227 in 2024. WI: 8.8 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$75,331
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
1.7% of home value a year
About $1,700 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 7.65%
WI's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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