Market rankings · Wisconsin

Restaurants and cafes in Wisconsin

Every metro area, small-town market and county in Wisconsin, ranked by the Groundwork market score for restaurants and cafes, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings: 26,345; 7,237 chain locations (27%)
Official establishments: 10,230; +4.2% since 2019
Household spending a year: $9.8B; On food away from home
Listings per 10k households: 106.3; 3% below the U.S.
Spending per listing: $373K; In line with the U.S.
Rank among states: #24 of 51; Market score 55 · Upper middle

A site report maps the restaurants and cafes on map listings around any address in Wisconsin by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Wisconsin has 26,345 restaurants and cafes on map listings as of September 2026. Of those, 7,237 are chain locations, or 27%, against 34% across the U.S. That comes to 106.3 for every 10,000 households, 3% below the U.S. rate of 109.8.

Household spending on food away from home in Wisconsin comes to about $9.8B a year: $3,959 per household, 3% below the U.S. average. Spread across 26,345 restaurants and cafes, that is $373K per restaurant, in line with the U.S. figure of $371K.

In 2023, official counts showed 10,230 businesses with payroll in Wisconsin classed as restaurants and other eating places, up 4.2% from 2019. That is one for every 242 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 6.0% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 498 SBA-backed loans worth $254.1M have gone to businesses classed as restaurants and other eating places in Wisconsin.

Among the 50 states and DC, Wisconsin ranks #24 for restaurants and cafes, with a Groundwork market score of 55 (upper middle). Of the 15 scored metro areas in or partly in Wisconsin, the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro area scores highest (85). Of the 14 scored small-town markets in or partly in Wisconsin, the Beaver Dam area scores highest (76).

Every market in Wisconsin for restaurants and cafes

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

Metro areas reaching Wisconsin, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	85	12,367	83.7	$552K	+2.6%	#3 of 387
1Madison, WI	74	3,057	101.4	$426K	+4.1%	#39 of 387
2Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI	73	722	89.8	$441K	+0.4%	#45 of 387
3Fond du Lac, WI	70	379	87.6	$436K	+0.5%	#60 of 387
4Wausau, WI	68	529	91.4	$427K	+1.0%	#72 of 387
5Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	68	674	92.8	$413K	+1.4%	#74 of 387
6Kenosha, WI	67	668	96.9	$420K	−0.4%	#80 of 387
Duluth, MN-WI	65	1,086	90.2	$418K	+0.2%	#95 of 387
7Appleton, WI	65	1,038	104.1	$400K	+2.7%	#97 of 387
8Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	63	6,604	100.6	$402K	0.0%	#107 of 387
9Janesville-Beloit, WI	63	644	95.8	$396K	+1.7%	#108 of 387
10La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	62	684	94.9	$404K	+0.4%	#114 of 387
11Green Bay, WI	56	1,510	110.9	$357K	+2.5%	#150 of 387
12Eau Claire, WI	51	782	108.8	$353K	+2.6%	#190 of 387
13Sheboygan, WI	44	560	112.6	$339K	0.0%	#233 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Wisconsin, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Beaver Dam, WI	76	321	89.4	$424K	−0.3%	#48 of 538
2Menomonie, WI	74	168	96.3	$395K	+1.7%	#57 of 538
3Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI	68	336	96.3	$414K	+0.3%	#93 of 538
4Sparta, WI	65	176	96.2	$381K	+0.6%	#129 of 538
5Manitowoc, WI	64	353	100.3	$364K	+0.4%	#135 of 538
6Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield, WI	63	307	95.2	$377K	−0.2%	#146 of 538
7Platteville, WI	56	223	111.7	$323K	+0.9%	#207 of 538
8Stevens Point-Plover, WI	48	357	120.3	$320K	+2.2%	#281 of 538
9Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI	43	558	129.5	$318K	+0.8%	#349 of 538
Iron Mountain, MI-WI	42	143	101.4	$343K	+0.4%	#353 of 538
10Shawano, WI	42	229	122.8	$288K	+1.4%	#358 of 538
11Rice Lake, WI	41	227	113.8	$314K	−0.5%	#369 of 538
12Marinette, WI-MI	40	319	108.5	$314K	+0.3%	#377 of 538
13Baraboo, WI	35	424	151.5	$259K	+1.3%	#420 of 538

Counties

Counties in Wisconsin, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Calumet County, WI	84	132	61.8	$681K	+2.9%	#67 of 2,405
2Washington County, WI	75	442	77.4	$566K	+1.8%	#237 of 2,405
3St. Croix County, WI	73	355	94.6	$491K	+4.7%	#316 of 2,405
4Waukesha County, WI	72	1,549	91.8	$518K	+2.4%	#338 of 2,405
5Pierce County, WI	70	163	102.7	$417K	+3.1%	#415 of 2,405
6Vernon County, WI	69	101	81.3	$458K	+2.4%	#438 of 2,405
7Dane County, WI	67	2,496	99.2	$441K	+4.9%	#492 of 2,405
8Ozaukee County, WI	64	384	100.2	$462K	+3.0%	#604 of 2,405
9Iowa County, WI	63	98	96.9	$416K	+1.0%	#645 of 2,405
10Racine County, WI	62	722	89.8	$441K	+0.4%	#679 of 2,405
11Dodge County, WI	62	321	89.4	$424K	−0.3%	#684 of 2,405
12Fond du Lac County, WI	60	379	87.6	$436K	+0.5%	#762 of 2,405
13Polk County, WI	60	183	93.6	$413K	+1.7%	#767 of 2,405
14Winnebago County, WI	60	674	92.8	$413K	+1.4%	#768 of 2,405
15Richland County, WI	59	57	78.6	$449K	−1.4%	#794 of 2,405
16Dunn County, WI	59	168	96.3	$395K	+1.7%	#810 of 2,405
17Marathon County, WI	58	529	91.4	$427K	+1.0%	#831 of 2,405
18Rock County, WI	58	644	95.8	$396K	+1.7%	#846 of 2,405
19Kenosha County, WI	57	668	96.9	$420K	−0.4%	#875 of 2,405
20Jefferson County, WI	56	336	96.3	$414K	+0.3%	#922 of 2,405
21Taylor County, WI	56	77	95.7	$377K	+0.9%	#934 of 2,405
22Brown County, WI	54	1,210	109.1	$365K	+2.6%	#1,027 of 2,405
23Waushara County, WI	54	104	98.2	$363K	+2.8%	#1,029 of 2,405
24Trempealeau County, WI	54	137	109.3	$349K	+1.1%	#1,031 of 2,405
25Oconto County, WI	54	198	117.8	$325K	+2.9%	#1,032 of 2,405

Show all 72 counties

Counties in Wisconsin, ranked for restaurants and cafes by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26Lafayette County, WI	54	92	136.0	$278K	+5.2%	#1,034 of 2,405
27Green County, WI	53	174	110.3	$361K	+0.5%	#1,069 of 2,405
28Adams County, WI	53	91	95.6	$353K	+5.2%	#1,073 of 2,405
29Monroe County, WI	51	176	96.2	$381K	+0.6%	#1,149 of 2,405
30Manitowoc County, WI	51	353	100.3	$364K	+0.4%	#1,158 of 2,405
31Wood County, WI	50	307	95.2	$377K	−0.2%	#1,186 of 2,405
32Eau Claire County, WI	50	481	107.5	$360K	+3.0%	#1,197 of 2,405
33Outagamie County, WI	50	906	115.6	$359K	+2.6%	#1,198 of 2,405
34Chippewa County, WI	50	301	110.9	$342K	+1.9%	#1,208 of 2,405
35Marquette County, WI	46	84	120.2	$289K	+2.1%	#1,371 of 2,405
36La Crosse County, WI	45	537	104.3	$368K	+0.3%	#1,400 of 2,405
37Clark County, WI	45	140	109.0	$333K	+1.2%	#1,423 of 2,405
38Kewaunee County, WI	45	102	122.1	$324K	+1.0%	#1,424 of 2,405
39Grant County, WI	44	223	111.7	$323K	+0.9%	#1,471 of 2,405
40Sheboygan County, WI	43	560	112.6	$339K	0.0%	#1,505 of 2,405
41Rusk County, WI	42	61	96.0	$348K	−0.2%	#1,542 of 2,405
42Douglas County, WI	41	220	114.8	$328K	−0.8%	#1,584 of 2,405
43Portage County, WI	40	357	120.3	$320K	+2.2%	#1,628 of 2,405
44Waupaca County, WI	39	256	113.4	$326K	−0.6%	#1,664 of 2,405
45Milwaukee County, WI	37	4,229	107.8	$337K	−1.5%	#1,745 of 2,405
46Green Lake County, WI	37	105	126.7	$290K	+1.5%	#1,759 of 2,405
47Washburn County, WI	36	105	138.8	$257K	+2.8%	#1,804 of 2,405
48Columbia County, WI	35	289	119.6	$342K	−0.7%	#1,828 of 2,405
49Walworth County, WI	35	558	129.5	$318K	+0.8%	#1,836 of 2,405
50Price County, WI	35	74	113.2	$294K	−0.3%	#1,842 of 2,405
51Barron County, WI	33	227	113.8	$314K	−0.5%	#1,918 of 2,405
52Juneau County, WI	33	137	125.1	$278K	−0.5%	#1,927 of 2,405
53Shawano County, WI	33	223	129.3	$274K	+1.7%	#1,929 of 2,405
54Lincoln County, WI	32	146	114.3	$319K	−0.1%	#1,950 of 2,405
55Marinette County, WI	31	229	120.2	$288K	+1.6%	#1,992 of 2,405
56Sauk County, WI	30	424	151.5	$259K	+1.3%	#2,044 of 2,405
57Buffalo County, WI	28	86	150.3	$241K	−0.1%	#2,110 of 2,405
58Burnett County, WI	28	118	164.2	$215K	+3.9%	#2,115 of 2,405
59Jackson County, WI	27	112	135.4	$261K	−0.5%	#2,138 of 2,405
60Bayfield County, WI	27	136	182.9	$202K	+3.4%	#2,145 of 2,405
61Crawford County, WI	26	88	131.2	$262K	−1.1%	#2,166 of 2,405
62Door County, WI	26	373	248.9	$157K	+1.6%	#2,175 of 2,405
63Sawyer County, WI	25	146	165.7	$208K	+4.0%	#2,202 of 2,405
64Vilas County, WI	24	231	207.2	$174K	+2.9%	#2,220 of 2,405
65Ashland County, WI	23	102	149.3	$229K	+1.1%	#2,235 of 2,405
66Oneida County, WI	23	306	174.9	$210K	+0.7%	#2,241 of 2,405
67Langlade County, WI	18	119	134.0	$248K	+0.4%	#2,330 of 2,405
Forest County, WI	Not scored	73	182.2	$186K	+4.4%
Pepin County, WI	Not scored	50	164.1	$230K	+2.2%
Iron County, WI	Not scored	78	250.9	$134K	−0.3%
Florence County, WI	Not scored	27	122.9	$281K	+4.0%
Menominee County, WI	Not scored	6	42.7	$808K	−1.4%

Markets with fewer than 5 restaurants and cafes on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many restaurants and cafes are in Wisconsin?

Map listings as of September 2026 show 26,345 restaurants and cafes in Wisconsin. 7,237 of them (27%) are chain locations. The listings count every restaurant, cafe, bar, bakery and food truck. Official counts show 10,230 businesses with payroll classed as restaurants and other eating places in 2023, up 4.2% from 2019. Official counts list 1,525 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in Wisconsin spend on food away from home?

About $9.8B a year, or $3,959 per household. That is 3% below the U.S. average (an index of 97, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 26,345 restaurants and cafes on map listings, it comes to $373K per restaurant. 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 restaurants and cafes?

Wisconsin has 106.3 restaurants and cafes per 10,000 households, 3% below the U.S. rate of 109.8. Spending per restaurant is $373K, in line with the U.S. figure of $371K. At the U.S. ratio of restaurants and cafes to household spending, Wisconsin would have about 26,474, against 26,345 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 242 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. The official count rose 4.2% from 2019 to 2023, against +6.0% for the U.S.

Which market in Wisconsin has the highest market score for restaurants and cafes?

Among 15 scored metro areas in or partly in Wisconsin, the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro area scores highest, at 85 (high). Among 14 scored small-town markets in or partly in Wisconsin, the Beaver Dam area scores highest, at 76 (high). Among 67 scored counties in Wisconsin, Calumet County scores highest, at 84 (high). 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 55 for restaurants and cafes (upper middle), #24 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 restaurants and cafes 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.

Sit-down restaurants12,969 listings
Fast food and sandwich shops2,887 listings
Pizza1,713 listings
Coffee shops and cafes2,411 listings
Bakeries and dessert shops1,895 listings

Screening a site or an acquisition in Wisconsin?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

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