Racine earns a D, ranked 350th of 357 in Wisconsin, mostly because of schools and health. Its schools rank behind 95% of the state's. Residents are less healthy than 80% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. In its favor, natural-hazard risk is low. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 100% of U.S. towns, with 44 places on the National Register. On walkability, just 26 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns do better. Its National Register listings include Thomas P. Hardy House and Karel Jonas House. Racine’s trail density is 1.2 miles per square mile, above both the Wisconsin town median (0.4) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4).

StrongestA⁺History AHazard risk AWalkabilityWeakestDSchools C⁻Health

What makes Racine stand out

Where Racine beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

Johnson, S.C., and Son Administration Building and Research Tower

HistoryA⁺

Settled in 1699

A history going back 327 years.

Including Fredric March and Ellen Corby.

Racine Unified School District

School	Grades	Students
Starbuck International School	K–8	1,133
Mitchell School	PK–8	1,040
Jerstad-Agerholm School	PK–8	870

Worth knowing · SchoolsD

On state tests and graduation

NCES · EDFacts.

Johnson, S.C., and Son Administration Building and Research Tower · National Register of Historic Places

Racine’s story

327 years in pictures

Johnson, S.C., and Son Administration Building and Research Tower is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1699, comes before those of 99% of the Wisconsin towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 5,107 in 1850, 77,816 in 2020. The archive holds 24 old photos and papers going back to 1793 and 4 maps from 1892 on.

44 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1699Racine is settled

Explore the history →

How Racine grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Racine is from typical.

How grading works

SchoolsDOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 14% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 14.3 of 20; 7.7% of households have no car; 3.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitAOpen →HealthAscension All Saints Hospital 0.8 miles awayC⁻Open →Jobs & incomeCOpen →SafetyMore crime per resident than 67% of U.S. townsCOpen →Cost of livingC⁺Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors6% conserved landA⁻Open →History85 notable people born hereA⁺Open →Civic life3.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market35 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 34.7; 21% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Racine: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Racine, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerWe Energies20.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterRacine WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet5 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpRacine Transfer StationDrop-offTown site

SchoolsRacine School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Wisconsin you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 20 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereCity of Racine ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023

ZIP codes53405, 53403, 53402, 5340453405 28% · 53403 26% · 53402 22% · 53404 17%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Racine.

Racine has milder winter nights than almost anywhere else in Wisconsin, has homes that are cheap against local pay and is safe by national standards but not by Wisconsin’s.

OutdoorsA⁻

6.3% of Racine is conserved land

18 miles of trail in 55 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Pritchard Park, at 75 acres.

#36for trails in WI

6.3%

conserved · 630 of 9,961 acres

18 mi

of trails · 1.2 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Colonial Park	1.5 mi	73
2. North Beach Park	0.9 mi	48
3. Reservoir Park	0.8 mi	21

Full pageRacine’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map18 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk1.5 miles of trail · Colonial Park Conserved land6.3% conserved · 630 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Racine?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsD

Racine earns a D for schools

Its public schools are run by the Racine Unified School District. Two of its 37 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

5%of WI districts it outscoresDSchool Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Starbuck International SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8	Grades K–8	1,133	D
Horlick HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,212	D

Full pageRacine’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsRacine Unified School District Vs. the neighborsBehind its 2 graded neighbors Every school37 schools · Starbuck International School Questions“Are Racine’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A

Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Racine

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 86% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 53 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Racine.

14risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageRacine’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesVery low risk Flood claims53 paid flood claims · Since 1978 Past disasters7 federal disasters · Paid out in Racine Get ready1.6 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

HealthC⁻

Compared with most of Wisconsin and the rest of the country, more of Racine’s adults get no exercise outside work

36% of Racine adults get no exercise outside work, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 26% and U.S. towns at 25%. 39% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Racine. Of the 357 Wisconsin towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who have obesity than Racine.

20%healthier than U.S. townsC⁻Health Grade

	Racine	Wisconsin towns	U.S. towns
Get no exercise (CDC PLACES)	36%	26%	25%
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	46%	38%	35%
Food insecurity (CDC PLACES)	23%	10%	14%
No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES)	13%	7.1%	8.1%

32 measures vs. Wisconsin

1 better12 too close to call19 worse

What stands out	Racine	WI
Fewer adults who have had cancer	6.7%	8.6%
More adults facing food insecurity	22.5%	12.1%

Ascension All Saints Hospital

0.8 mi away · emergency room

2 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental

2nd

percentile among WI towns

Full pageRacine’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore adults who get no exercise Hospitals & doctors nearby0.8 miles to an ER · Ascension All Saints Hospital How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than WI on 1 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

HousingCost of living grade C⁺

Homes in Racine are worth about $217K, by Zillow’s estimate

At 2.8 years of the Racine metro’s $78K median household income, the typical home (about $217K) costs less against local pay than in 97% of Wisconsin towns; that ratio is one input to its C+ for cost of living. Its typical home is the least expensive on its borders; Mount Pleasant is next at $345K.

The typical Racine home is worth about $217,000, up 6.2% in a year, 36% below the Wisconsin typical home. 60% of Racine households own their home.

$217KZillow home value

	Racine	Wisconsin towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	60%	74%	73%
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent	53%	39%	48%
Median rent	$1,033 a month	$1,080 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Racine$217K

Wisconsin$337K

Market temperature

days on market

100.9%

sale-to-list price

+6.2%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pageRacine’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 6.2% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 3.8 years of income Rents$1,033 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of all 2 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C

Racine has 0.7 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out

Jobs based here fell from 30,753 in 2013 to 24,117.

About one in 4 of Racine’s working residents works in town. Racine’s median household income is $58,000. Since 2013, Racine has lost 6,636 jobs, to 24,117 in 2023.

23%work in town

	Racine	Wisconsin towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	18%	6.3%	9.6%
Working residents who work in town	23%	8.2%	8%
Median household income	$58,000	$88,000	$80,000
Work from home	7.2%	12%	11%

Where working residents work

In Racine23%

Mount Pleasant10%

Milwaukee10%

Kenosha8%

Sturtevant4%

11 mi

median commute distance

24,117

jobs based in Racine

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

Walkability grade: more walkable than 88% of U.S. towns

Full pageRacine’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here24,117 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work23% work in Racine Commute times23 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 11 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SafetyC

Racine stands out in Wisconsin and nationally, with violent crime higher than most

At 26.6 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 86% of Wisconsin’s graded towns. Reported crimes rose from 988 to 1,374 over the last three FBI years, a rise beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.

The violent crime rate in Racine is 4.2 per 1,000 residents. Racine reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 67% report less. The property crime rate in Racine is 13.5 per 1,000 residents.

33%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade

	Racine	Wisconsin towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	4.2 per 1,000 residents	1.1	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	13.5 per 1,000 residents	6.3	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Racine4.2

Wisconsin2.4

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Racine13.5

Wisconsin10.3

U.S.15.5

33rd

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

14th

percentile among WI towns

324

violent crimes reported in 2025

1,050

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageRacine’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type4.2 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsUp since 2023 Vs. the neighborsBehind its 2 graded neighbors Questions“Is Racine, WI safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Climate

Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Racine

January nights average 16.5°, the #2 highest of 2,050 Wisconsin places with climate records; July afternoons average 80.4°.

Racine has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Of the 362 Wisconsin towns we compare, none has a higher January low than Racine. About 41 inches of snow falls in a winter.

41″snow a winter

	Racine	Wisconsin towns	U.S. towns
July high	80°F	82°F	85°F
January low	17°F	11°F	22°F

Typical low → high °F

Winter20–33°

Spring37–54°

Summer61–78°

Fall44–60°

Oct 24

typical first frost

Apr 24

typical last frost

+0.9°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageRacine’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 80°, January lows 17°Rain & snow41″ of snow a winter · 35 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+0.9° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Nearby attractions

Six Flags Great America and 32 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Racine. Close and well known come first.

All 123 attractions →

Big draw26 mi Theme parkSix Flags Great America3.0M visitors a year

23 mi Stadium & arenaFiserv Forum

22 mi MuseumMilwaukee Art Museum350K visitors a year

23 mi Stadium & arenaUW–Milwaukee Panther Arena

31 mi TheatreAlpine Valley Music Theatre

22 mi MuseumHarley-Davidson Museum300K visitors a year

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Six Flags Great America: Feather Better, CC BY 4.0 · Fiserv Forum: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Milwaukee Art Museum: Michael Hicks (Mulad), CC BY 2.0 · UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena: Shadowlink1014, Public domain · Alpine Valley Music Theatre: chad davis, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Harley-Davidson Museum: Dori, CC BY-SA 3.0 us

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Racine

20pages on Racine

The big questions

SchoolsDBehind 95% of WI districts · 37 schools SafetyC4.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC⁻Better than WI on 1 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingC⁺$217K typical home · up 6.2% in a year Work & commuteC$58K median household income · 24,117 jobs here Natural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 14% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA⁻18 mi of trails · 6% conserved land PlacesAttractions123 nearby · Racine Zoo under 1 mi LibraryCRacine Public Library CollegesMidwest College of Oriental Medicine-Racine is 3.9 mi away

The story

HistoryA⁺Settled 1699 · 44 on the National Register Famous people85 born in Racine Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 98 residents Climate80° summer highs · 41″ of snow

Day to day

NewsWeatherHandbookZIP code 53401, 53402, 53403 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

5 within 15 miles of the center of Racine

Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-RacineUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Racine3.9 mi University of Wisconsin-ParksideUniversity or college · Public · Kenosha5.8 mi$8,270 in-state tuition Gateway Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Kenosha8.4 mi$4,956 in-state tuition

About 4 of every 100 Racine residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Landmarks

44 places in Racine on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Johnson, S.C., and Son Administration Building and Research TowerNational Historic Landmark

First Presbyterian ChurchBuilt 1851

Eli R. Cooley HouseBuilt 1851

Thomas P. Hardy HouseBuilt 1905

Famous people from Racine

85 notable people were born in Racine.

See all 85 →

Fredric MarchAmerican actor · 1897–1975

Ellen CorbyAmerican actress · 1911–1999

Jesse MarschAmerican soccer coach · born 1973

Caron ButlerAmerican basketball player · born 1980

Kevin J. AndersonAmerican science fiction writer · born 1962

Kristin Bauer van StratenAmerican film and television actress · born 1966

About Racine

City in Wisconsin, United States

Official town website ↗

Racine ( rə-SEEN, also RAY-seen) is a city in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River, 22 miles (35 km) south of Milwaukee and 60 miles (97 km) north of Chicago. It is the fifth-most populous city in Wisconsin, with a population of 77,816 at the 2020 census. The Racine metropolitan statistical area, consisting solely of Racine County, has an estimated 199,000 residents. Racine is the headquarters of several industrial companies, namely Case IH, Dremel, InSinkErator, Modine Manufacturing, Reliance Controls, and S. C. Johnson & Son. Historically, the Mitchell & Lewis Company began making motorcycl…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1699
Area: 19 sq mi
Elevation: 617 ft
ZIP code: 53401, 53402, 53403
Area code: 262

Racine’s neighbors

4 towns share a border with Racine.

Explore the map →

Mount PleasantCaledoniaElmwood ParkNorth BayRacine

Mount Pleasant

W · 10% of Racine workers commute here

Visit

Caledonia

NW · 3% of Racine workers commute here

Visit

Elmwood Park

Visit

North Bay

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	WI rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Racine	#350	D	C⁺	C	D	C⁻
Mount Pleasant	#328	C	C	B⁻	D	B⁻
Caledonia	#254	B⁻	C⁺	A	D	B
Elmwood Park	—	—	—	—	—	—
North Bay	—	—	—	—	—	—

Elmwood Park and North Bay aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Racine with a neighbor →

Questions about Racine

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Racine, WI a good place to live?

Racine grades D overall, better than 11% of U.S. towns and #350 of 357 in Wisconsin. It grades C− for health, C for safety and D for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a D.

Is Racine, WI expensive?

That is 2.8 years of the area's median household income ($78,096 across the Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.

What is Racine, WI known for?

85 notable people were born here, including Fredric March and Ellen Corby.

Post to Racine

Check your email

RacineWI

Is Racine a good place to live?

What makes Racine stand out

327 years in pictures

How Racine grades

Moving to Racine: who provides what

The data

6.3% of Racine is conserved land

Racine earns a D for schools

Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Racine

Compared with most of Wisconsin and the rest of the country, more of Racine’s adults get no exercise outside work

Homes in Racine are worth about $217K, by Zillow’s estimate

Typical home value

Racine has 0.7 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out

Where working residents work

Racine stands out in Wisconsin and nationally, with violent crime higher than most

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Racine

Typical low → high °F

Six Flags Great America and 32 more within 40 miles

Everything we know about Racine

Colleges nearby

Landmarks

Famous people from Racine

About Racine

Racine’s neighbors

Questions about Racine