Green Bay vs Racine
Compare Green Bay, WI and Racine, WI on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $924/mo in Green Bay and $985/mo in Racine, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,055/mo and $1,092/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (237 vs 231 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 81°F and 81°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Green Bay; if walkable daily life matters more, Racine screens stronger on the walkability proxy (18 vs 8). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Green Bay leads 67 to 64 on the cost and climate screen.
Green Bay leads 78 to 74 on the work screen.
Green Bay leads 41 to 38 on the daily life screen.
Racine leads 55 to 51 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Green Bay is roughly $68,000 in Racine using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Green Bay | Racine | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $924/mo | $985/mo | Green Bay |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,055/mo | $1,092/mo | Green Bay |
| Median home value | $220,000 | $226,000 | Green Bay |
| State income tax | 7.7% | 7.7% | Tie |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 25.5 min | Green Bay |
| Safety score | 65/100 | 65/100 | Tie |
| School score | 5/10 | 4/10 | Green Bay |
| Walkability estimate | 8/100 | 18/100 | Racine |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 5/10 | Green Bay |
| Restaurants per 100k | 164.6 | 152.2 | Green Bay |
| Mountain distance | 264 mi | 294 mi | Green Bay |
| Coast distance | 663 mi | 620 mi | Racine |
What stands out
Green Bay stronger signals
- Trail access within 45 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 20 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Green Bay tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Racine stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 16 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Racine tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Green Bay cheaper than Racine?
On public benchmarks Green Bay is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $924/mo in Green Bay vs $985/mo in Racine; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,055/mo vs $1,092/mo; state income tax is 7.7% vs 7.7%.
Is Green Bay or Racine safer?
Green Bay screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 65/100 for Green Bay and 65/100 for Racine (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Green Bay or Racine?
School screens show 5/10 for Green Bay vs 4/10 for Racine, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Green Bay and Racine?
Green Bay: summer highs near 81°F, winter lows near 5°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Racine: 81°F / 5°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
Start City Match