Sheboygan receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Dubuque
Sheboygan
Opportunity
64 · Top 32%
vs72 · Top 20%
Growth
59 · Top 35%
vs61 · Top 32%
Climate
57 · Bottom 16%
vs53 · Bottom 7%
Physical resilience
77 · Top 18%
vs98 · Top 1%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 30%
vs98 · Top 37%
Access
68 · Bottom 35%
vs76 · Top 50%
Economic stability
90 · Top 4%
vs88 · Top 6%
Measured values
| Metric | Dubuque | Sheboygan | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 99,030 | 117,991 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $77,630 | $73,094 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,404 | $40,078 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 163/sq mi | 231/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $237,300 | $232,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $959 | $934 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.3% | 71.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 3.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | 0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.4% | 27.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 8.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 647 | 499 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.5 | 4.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 31.2% | 93.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 11°F | 12°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 38.2" | 29.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 58 mi | 44 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 17.9 min | 19.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.1 | 41.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Dubuque
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado.
Sheboygan
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Dubuque, IA Metro Area · Sheboygan, WI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology