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With over 5 million people, Wisconsin ranks as the 18th most populous state in the United States. The economy of the Badger State is comprised of agriculture, machinery and paper products, tourism, and the escalating industry of biotechnology. Famed for its foods, Wisconsin leads the nation as a maker of cheese (over one third of America’s cheese is made here) and producer of other dairy products, beer, cranberries, ginseng, hogs, and cattle.
In 2004, the per capita personal income (PCPI) of Wisconsin was just over $32,000, ranking 22nd highest in the United States. The PCPI growth rate from 1999 to 2004 was 18.2 %, close to that of the nation. Wisconsin has a home ownership rate of 73.3 percent and an annual unemployment rate of 4.7 percent. The Badger state’s median family income for 2005 was $66,988, with a cost of living ranking below the national average for such cities as Madison and Milwaukee. Wisconsin’s top bracket of personal income tax is 6.75 percent; the state levies a sales tax of 5 percent. Business taxes for Wisconsin rank well below the national average.
In addition to a low cost of living and inexpensive power rates, Wisconsin offers a multitude of activities, from urban to rural. With its combination of Midwestern charm, fine education, vast recreational opportunities, and its "forward" drive as a biotechnology center, the Badger state provides a fine quality of life.
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