Wisconsin: elevation, cities and highest point
Wisconsin has 5,972,787 people (2025) and 72 counties. Its highest point is Timms Hill, at 1,951 ft, and its lowest, Lake Michigan, at 579 ft. Here you’ll find the elevation of its capital, its cities over 100,000 people and its summit, with a map of its counties.
By the Mapsfera Team
- Population (2025)
- 5,972,787
- The 21st most populous of the 50 states
- Land area
- 54,168 sq mi
- The 25th largest state
- Counties
- 72
- According to the Census (2025)
- Lowest point
- 579 ft
- Lake Michigan
Map of Wisconsin’s counties
- Capital’s county
- County with a city page
- City, by elevation
- Highest point
Elevation
The capital, Madison, sits at 875 ft (267 m): the 15th highest of the 50 state capitals. Wisconsin’s highest point, Timms Hill, is 169 mi away in a straight line and 1,076 ft higher.
Between its highest point (1,951 ft) and its lowest (579 ft) there’s 1,372 ft of relief, according to the USGS table. Of the 50 state high points, Wisconsin’s is the 39th highest.
Wisconsin has 3 cities with a page. The highest is Madison, at 875 ft, and the lowest is Green Bay, at 593 ft: 282 ft apart.
Wisconsin borders 4 states. Their highest points are Eagle Mountain, in Minnesota (2,301 ft), Hawkeye Point, in Iowa (1,670 ft), Charles Mound, in Illinois (1,235 ft), and Mount Arvon, in Michigan (1,979 ft): Wisconsin’s is the 3rd highest of the 5. Their capitals: St. Paul (789 ft), Des Moines (872 ft), Springfield (600 ft), and Lansing (853 ft).
- Timms Hill 1,951 ft
- Madison 875 ft
- Milwaukee 615 ft
Cities of 100,000 to 250,000 people (1)
Population
Wisconsin had 5,972,787 residents on July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates, 1.3% more than in April 2020 (5,894,323). Across 54,168 sq mi of land, that’s 110 people/sq mi.
Its most populous place is Milwaukee, with 562,407 people. The Census counts 808 cities, towns and census-designated places (CDPs) in Wisconsin.
| Place | Population | Land area | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 562,407 | 96.2 sq mi | 615 ft |
| Madison | 286,233 | 84.2 sq mi | 875 ft |
| Green Bay | 106,675 | 45.5 sq mi | 593 ft |
| Kenosha | 99,239 | 29.6 sq mi | — |
| Racine | 77,908 | 15.5 sq mi | — |
| Appleton | 75,452 | 25.4 sq mi | — |
| Eau Claire | 72,465 | 34.4 sq mi | — |
| Waukesha | 70,872 | 25.5 sq mi | — |
| Oshkosh | 67,460 | 27.8 sq mi | — |
| Janesville | 66,929 | 34.6 sq mi | — |
Neighboring states
Tools
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Wisconsin?
Timms Hill, at 1,951 ft, according to the USGS table. It’s the 39th highest of the 50 state high points.
What is the lowest point in Wisconsin?
Lake Michigan, at 579 ft, according to the same USGS table.
What is the elevation of Madison, the capital?
875 ft above sea level, at its reference point in the USGS gazetteer. It’s the 15th highest state capital.
What is the highest city in Wisconsin?
Of the cities with a page (the capital and those over 100,000 people), Madison, at 875 ft. Some smaller towns are higher: look them up with the point elevation tool.
How many counties does Wisconsin have?
72, according to the Census Bureau in 2025.
Sources
- Population, land area and counties: U.S. Census Bureau (Vintage 2025 estimates and 2025 Gazetteer), public domain.
- Highest and lowest points: USGS, “Elevations and Distances in the United States” (and, for Denali, the 2015 survey), public domain.
- City elevations: USGS 3DEP at each city’s GNIS point, public domain.
- County map: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 Cartographic Boundary Files (1:500,000).
Methodology and sources · Spotted a mistake? Let us know