Sheboygan and Manitowoc receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Sheboygan
Manitowoc
Opportunity
66 · Top 30%
vs72 · Top 20%
Growth
65 · Top 24%
vs58 · Top 36%
Climate
53 · Bottom 2%
vs53 · Bottom 2%
Physical resilience
98 · Top 1%
vs96 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs100 · Top 8%
Schools
38 · Bottom 32%
vs31 · Bottom 24%
Access
76 · Bottom 18%
vs81 · Bottom 24%
Economic stability
61 · Top 50%
vs49 · Bottom 31%
Measured values
| Metric | Sheboygan | Manitowoc | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 49,645 | 34,620 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,927 | $63,757 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,174 | $36,474 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,067/sq mi | 1,929/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $174,200 | $160,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $924 | $804 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.9% | 67.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.6% | 1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 24.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 12.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 366 | 68 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.4 | 2.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 510.0% | 65.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 80°F | 80°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 12°F | 12°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.4" | 29.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 44 mi | 35 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 19.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.8 | 42.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 26 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.89 | 12.13 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 32.6% | 23.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 32.5% | 27.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 60.3% | 51.4% | 2024-25 school 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.
Full profiles: Sheboygan, WI · Manitowoc, WI · How this is calculated: methodology