Building Net Worth in Wisconsin
Net worth is the single most comprehensive measure of financial health โ it captures everything you own (assets) minus everything you owe (liabilities). In Wisconsin, with a cost of living index of 98.5 and a median home price of $338K, housing is typically the dominant asset for middle-income households.
The price-to-income ratio in Wisconsin is 4.4ร โ meaning the median home costs 4.4 years of the median household's gross income. This is a manageable ratio suggesting homeownership is accessible for median-income households with disciplined saving.
Net Worth Targets by Age in Wisconsin
| Age | Benchmark (ร income) | At $77K/yr |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1ร annual income | $77,488 |
| 40 | 3ร annual income | $232,464 |
| 50 | 6ร annual income | $464,928 |
| 60 | 8ร annual income | $619,904 |
| 67 (retirement) | 10ร annual income | $774,880 |
Targets apply to investable assets (retirement accounts + savings), not including home equity.
Wisconsin vs. National Wealth Context
| Metric | Wisconsin | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $77,488 | $74,580 |
| Median Home Price | $338,000 | $420,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 98.5 | 100 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 4.4ร | 5.6ร |
| National Median Net Worth | โ | $192,700 |