Market rankings · Wisconsin
Child care centers and preschools in Wisconsin
Every metro area, small-town market and county in Wisconsin, ranked by the Groundwork market score for child care centers and preschools, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 1,257
- 105 chain locations (8%)
- Official establishments
- 1,588
- +0.3% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $1B
- On child care and other personal services
- Listings per 10k households
- 5.1
- 12% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $832K
- 17% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #38 of 51
- Market score 35 · Lower middle
A site report maps the child care centers and preschools on map listings around any address in Wisconsin by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
There are 1,257 child care centers and preschools on map listings in Wisconsin as of September 2026. 105 of them (8%) are chain locations, against 12% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 5.1, 12% below the U.S. rate of 5.8.
Households in Wisconsin spend about $1B a year on child care and other personal services, or $422 per household, 27% below the U.S. average. That works out to $832K per center, 17% below the U.S. figure of $1M.
In 2023, official counts showed 1,588 businesses with payroll in Wisconsin classed as child care services, up 0.3% from 2019. That is one for every 1,561 households, against one for every 1,573 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 5.7% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 109 SBA-backed loans worth $73.9M have gone to businesses classed as child care services in Wisconsin.
Among the 50 states and DC, Wisconsin ranks #38 for child care centers and preschools, with a Groundwork market score of 35 (lower middle). Of the 15 scored metro areas in or partly in Wisconsin, the Appleton metro area scores highest (71). Of the 14 scored small-town markets in or partly in Wisconsin, the Baraboo area scores highest (75).
Every market in Wisconsin for child care centers and preschools
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Wisconsin, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Appleton, WI | 71 | 34 | 3.4 | $1.3M | +2.7% | #53 of 387 |
| 2Wausau, WI | 67 | 12 | 2.1 | $1.9M | +1.0% | #67 of 387 |
| 3Fond du Lac, WI | 67 | 10 | 2.3 | $1.7M | +0.5% | #68 of 387 |
| 4Sheboygan, WI | 62 | 13 | 2.6 | $1.5M | 0.0% | #96 of 387 |
| 5Green Bay, WI | 61 | 51 | 3.7 | $1.1M | +2.5% | #109 of 387 |
| 6Janesville-Beloit, WI | 47 | 27 | 4.0 | $947K | +1.7% | #216 of 387 |
| 7Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 47 | 34 | 4.7 | $831K | +1.4% | #222 of 387 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 45 | 954 | 6.5 | $866K | +2.6% | #235 of 387 |
| 8Madison, WI | 40 | 188 | 6.2 | $798K | +4.1% | #264 of 387 |
| 9Kenosha, WI | 36 | 34 | 4.9 | $893K | −0.4% | #285 of 387 |
| 10Eau Claire, WI | 35 | 39 | 5.4 | $719K | +2.6% | #295 of 387 |
| 11Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | 33 | 47 | 5.8 | $716K | +0.4% | #311 of 387 |
| 12La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 32 | 39 | 5.4 | $735K | +0.4% | #317 of 387 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 29 | 80 | 6.6 | $584K | +0.2% | #340 of 387 |
| 13Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 22 | 420 | 6.4 | $704K | 0.0% | #367 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Baraboo, WI | 75 | 7 | 2.5 | $1.6M | +1.3% | #40 of 454 |
| 2Manitowoc, WI | 75 | 8 | 2.3 | $1.6M | +0.4% | #41 of 454 |
| 3Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI | 75 | 13 | 3.0 | $1.5M | +0.8% | #43 of 454 |
| 4Stevens Point-Plover, WI | 72 | 12 | 4.0 | $962K | +2.2% | #63 of 454 |
| 5Menomonie, WI | 58 | 10 | 5.7 | $677K | +1.7% | #168 of 454 |
| 6Shawano, WI | 56 | 9 | 4.8 | $696K | +1.4% | #183 of 454 |
| 7Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield, WI | 55 | 13 | 4.0 | $869K | −0.2% | #187 of 454 |
| 8Beaver Dam, WI | 55 | 16 | 4.5 | $829K | −0.3% | #188 of 454 |
| 9Marinette, WI-MI | 53 | 10 | 3.4 | $917K | +0.3% | #205 of 454 |
| 10Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI | 52 | 22 | 6.3 | $652K | +0.3% | #218 of 454 |
| 11Sparta, WI | 45 | 11 | 6.0 | $595K | +0.6% | #278 of 454 |
| 12Rice Lake, WI | 37 | 12 | 6.0 | $575K | −0.5% | #337 of 454 |
| Iron Mountain, MI-WI | 37 | 10 | 7.1 | $458K | +0.4% | #343 of 454 |
| 13Platteville, WI | 32 | 15 | 7.5 | $465K | +0.9% | #371 of 454 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington County, WI | 74 | 18 | 3.2 | $1.6M | +1.8% | #169 of 1,611 |
| 2Door County, WI | 71 | 5 | 3.3 | $1.2M | +1.6% | #232 of 1,611 |
| 3Fond du Lac County, WI | 70 | 10 | 2.3 | $1.7M | +0.5% | #250 of 1,611 |
| 4Walworth County, WI | 70 | 13 | 3.0 | $1.5M | +0.8% | #251 of 1,611 |
| 5Marathon County, WI | 69 | 12 | 2.1 | $1.9M | +1.0% | #271 of 1,611 |
| 6Sauk County, WI | 69 | 7 | 2.5 | $1.6M | +1.3% | #274 of 1,611 |
| 7Manitowoc County, WI | 69 | 8 | 2.3 | $1.6M | +0.4% | #275 of 1,611 |
| 8Outagamie County, WI | 69 | 30 | 3.8 | $1.2M | +2.6% | #287 of 1,611 |
| 9Pierce County, WI | 67 | 7 | 4.4 | $1.1M | +3.1% | #340 of 1,611 |
| 10St. Croix County, WI | 67 | 21 | 5.6 | $987K | +4.7% | #342 of 1,611 |
| 11Sheboygan County, WI | 65 | 13 | 2.6 | $1.5M | 0.0% | #384 of 1,611 |
| 12Waukesha County, WI | 65 | 92 | 5.5 | $1.1M | +2.4% | #397 of 1,611 |
| 13Portage County, WI | 63 | 12 | 4.0 | $962K | +2.2% | #459 of 1,611 |
| 14Brown County, WI | 61 | 46 | 4.1 | $1M | +2.6% | #515 of 1,611 |
| 15Ozaukee County, WI | 58 | 26 | 6.8 | $834K | +3.0% | #614 of 1,611 |
| 16Polk County, WI | 57 | 10 | 5.1 | $769K | +1.7% | #641 of 1,611 |
| 17Trempealeau County, WI | 56 | 6 | 4.8 | $799K | +1.1% | #669 of 1,611 |
| 18Marinette County, WI | 54 | 6 | 3.1 | $1M | +1.6% | #709 of 1,611 |
| 19Rock County, WI | 54 | 27 | 4.0 | $947K | +1.7% | #717 of 1,611 |
| 20Winnebago County, WI | 54 | 34 | 4.7 | $831K | +1.4% | #728 of 1,611 |
| 21Shawano County, WI | 53 | 7 | 4.1 | $830K | +1.7% | #753 of 1,611 |
| 22Dane County, WI | 49 | 165 | 6.6 | $779K | +4.9% | #853 of 1,611 |
| 23Dunn County, WI | 49 | 10 | 5.7 | $677K | +1.7% | #861 of 1,611 |
| 24Wood County, WI | 48 | 13 | 4.0 | $869K | −0.2% | #874 of 1,611 |
| 25Dodge County, WI | 48 | 16 | 4.5 | $829K | −0.3% | #875 of 1,611 |
Show all 72 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Eau Claire County, WI | 48 | 23 | 5.1 | $774K | +3.0% | #876 of 1,611 |
| 27Iowa County, WI | 48 | 6 | 5.9 | $731K | +1.0% | #880 of 1,611 |
| 28Clark County, WI | 47 | 5 | 3.9 | $908K | +1.2% | #898 of 1,611 |
| 29Douglas County, WI | 46 | 8 | 4.2 | $912K | −0.8% | #919 of 1,611 |
| 30Green County, WI | 45 | 6 | 3.8 | $1.1M | +0.5% | #948 of 1,611 |
| 31Kenosha County, WI | 44 | 34 | 4.9 | $893K | −0.4% | #972 of 1,611 |
| 32Jefferson County, WI | 44 | 22 | 6.3 | $652K | +0.3% | #987 of 1,611 |
| 33Sawyer County, WI | 43 | 5 | 5.7 | $593K | +4.0% | #1,024 of 1,611 |
| 34Columbia County, WI | 42 | 11 | 4.6 | $958K | −0.7% | #1,029 of 1,611 |
| 35Racine County, WI | 42 | 47 | 5.8 | $716K | +0.4% | #1,041 of 1,611 |
| 36Chippewa County, WI | 40 | 16 | 5.9 | $639K | +1.9% | #1,110 of 1,611 |
| 37Monroe County, WI | 39 | 11 | 6.0 | $595K | +0.6% | #1,129 of 1,611 |
| 38La Crosse County, WI | 37 | 32 | 6.2 | $644K | +0.3% | #1,167 of 1,611 |
| 39Lincoln County, WI | 35 | 8 | 6.3 | $579K | −0.1% | #1,223 of 1,611 |
| 40Green Lake County, WI | 34 | 5 | 6.0 | $604K | +1.5% | #1,247 of 1,611 |
| 41Oneida County, WI | 34 | 14 | 8.0 | $457K | +0.7% | #1,259 of 1,611 |
| 42Barron County, WI | 32 | 12 | 6.0 | $575K | −0.5% | #1,298 of 1,611 |
| 43Grant County, WI | 27 | 15 | 7.5 | $465K | +0.9% | #1,396 of 1,611 |
| 44Waupaca County, WI | 26 | 14 | 6.2 | $591K | −0.6% | #1,404 of 1,611 |
| 45Milwaukee County, WI | 16 | 284 | 7.2 | $519K | −1.5% | #1,535 of 1,611 |
| Calumet County, WI | Not scored | 4 | 1.9 | $2.4M | +2.9% | |
| Oconto County, WI | Not scored | 2 | 1.2 | $3.2M | +2.9% | |
| Vernon County, WI | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $2.3M | +2.4% | |
| Juneau County, WI | Not scored | 2 | 1.8 | $1.8M | −0.5% | |
| Waushara County, WI | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $3.6M | +2.8% | |
| Vilas County, WI | Not scored | 3 | 2.7 | $1.3M | +2.9% | |
| Adams County, WI | Not scored | 3 | 3.2 | $992K | +5.2% | |
| Jackson County, WI | Not scored | 4 | 4.8 | $704K | −0.5% | |
| Kewaunee County, WI | Not scored | 3 | 3.6 | $1.1M | +1.0% | |
| Taylor County, WI | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $2.7M | +0.9% | |
| Langlade County, WI | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $695K | +0.4% | |
| Richland County, WI | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $818K | −1.4% | |
| Lafayette County, WI | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $1.3M | +5.2% | |
| Burnett County, WI | Not scored | 4 | 5.6 | $641K | +3.9% | |
| Washburn County, WI | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $878K | +2.8% | |
| Bayfield County, WI | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $2.7M | +3.4% | |
| Ashland County, WI | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $742K | +1.1% | |
| Crawford County, WI | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $1.1M | −1.1% | |
| Marquette County, WI | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $1.1M | +2.1% | |
| Rusk County, WI | Not scored | 3 | 4.7 | $637K | −0.2% | |
| Price County, WI | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $2M | −0.3% | |
| Buffalo County, WI | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $983K | −0.1% | |
| Forest County, WI | Not scored | 2 | 5.0 | $636K | +4.4% | |
| Pepin County, WI | Not scored | 4 | 13.1 | $284K | +2.2% | |
| Iron County, WI | Not scored | 2 | 6.4 | $465K | −0.3% | |
| Florence County, WI | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +4.0% | |
| Menominee County, WI | Not scored | 2 | 14.2 | $227K | −1.4% |
Markets with fewer than 5 child care centers and preschools on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many child care centers and preschools are in Wisconsin?
As of September 2026, map listings count 1,257 child care centers and preschools in Wisconsin. 105 of them (8%) are chain locations. The listings count day care centers and preschools. Official counts show 1,588 businesses with payroll classed as child care services in 2023, up 0.3% from 2019. Official counts also show 7,027 one-person businesses without payroll.
How much do households in Wisconsin spend on child care and other personal services?
About $1B a year, or $422 per household. That is 27% below the U.S. average (an index of 73, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 1,257 child care centers and preschools on map listings, it comes to $832K per center. It is estimated from the incomes of the 2,479,480 households in Wisconsin and national spending patterns by income.
How does Wisconsin compare with the U.S. for child care centers and preschools?
Wisconsin has 5.1 child care centers and preschools per 10,000 households, 12% below the U.S. rate of 5.8. Spending per center is $832K, 17% below the U.S. figure of $1M. At the U.S. ratio of child care centers and preschools to household spending, Wisconsin would have about 1,044, against 1,257 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,561 households, against one for every 1,573 across the U.S. The official count rose 0.3% from 2019 to 2023, against +5.7% for the U.S.
Which market in Wisconsin has the highest market score for child care centers and preschools?
Among 15 scored metro areas in or partly in Wisconsin, the Appleton metro area scores highest, at 71 (upper middle). Among 14 scored small-town markets in or partly in Wisconsin, the Baraboo area scores highest, at 75 (high). Among 45 scored counties in Wisconsin, Washington County scores highest, at 74 (upper middle). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Wisconsin scores 35 for child care centers and preschools (lower middle), #38 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Wisconsin. It maps the child care centers and preschools on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Child care and preschools in other states
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Top markets for child care centers and preschools across the U.S. · All business types in Wisconsin
Screening a site or an acquisition in Wisconsin?
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This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.