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Manitowoc, WI

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Manitowoc, WI

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 31
Population34,553
Foreign Born2.3%
Population Density1,925people per mi²
Median Age43.1 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

61/100

39% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Manitowoc, Wisconsin

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $13k$24k
Comfortable $28k$41k
Luxury $107k+$166k+
Elite (Top 5%) $126k+$196k+
Affordability Ratio

151%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean85%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
9
Poor
4
Negative
7

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

0.9mi

Gas

8 within 10 miles

0.9mi

Hospital

2 within 20 miles

0.4mi

Airport

ORD — O'Hare International

146.9mi

Post Office

USPS — Manitowoc, WI

1mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf4Nearest 2.2 mi
Camping5Nearest 29.7 mi
Marina1Nearest 1.5 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range0Nearest 12.3 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$62k+3.5%
17% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$529k
19% below US avg
College Educated
23.8%
32% below US avg
WFH
6.1%
57% below US avg
Homeownership
65.6%
Equal to US avg
Median Home
$144k
49% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
A
Very Safe

Lower crime rates than 87% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
8.6
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−45.8%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−32.9%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.03 / 1k Residents89% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.39 / 1k Residents15% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−58.7%
Burglary
0.26 / 1k Residents70% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
6.50 / 1k Residents8% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.32 / 1k Residents74% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+8Leans Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential history data unavailable.

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
C+
Moderate

Moderate friction. Expect trade-offs in some aspect of personal liberty and independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C-
Weak10.9% of income
Property Rights
C-
FairIJ Grade C-
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (15% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
D+
RestrictedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
F
ProhibitedIllegal

Homesteading

Growing Season181 days226 frost-free
Annual Rainfall35.5"
Elevation623 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
C-
Weak154 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,925/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B
Fair2 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
D
PoorInland Flooding, Cold Wave, Hail, Tornado, Heat Wave
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 214 mi · coast 717 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$32.4M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T10:20:37.000Z

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