WI was – and still is – much more dependent on mass production manufacturing than MN has ever been. I’ve lived in the Twin Cities for 29 years, and I have no desire to return to Wisconsin because I prefer Minnesota.Īt the same time, most of the self-perceived moral superiority of Minnesotans is misplaced and based on ignorance of the economic differences between the two states. I grew up in Wisconsin (Beloit), graduated from college there, and lived there for 29 years.

I have many of the same life experiences as Mr. Well, except for a Packer game of course. You might just never want to go home again. If you are a Wisconsin native with a complicated relationship with alcohol, head on over. Minnesota has some of the best alcohol rehab centers in the world. Wisconsin has been, and likely will remain, the booziest state in the nation. After you have all that extra money from your higher wage and have saved money on taxes you can drive to see your friends and relatives back in Wisconsin. You can drive to a Packer game and back in a day (and I have). Olson, Johnson) and great for the food scene. More welcoming for those with names that don’t end in “son” (e.g. It’s way more diverse up here now than when I first moved here. We have just about anything you are into, from all sorts of music to theater to the amazing Walker Art Center. We are in the midst of a craft beer explosion. Can easily find a Pussy Hat (or have someone make you one) in all parts of the state.

Our Legislature is controlled by Republicans and the governor is a Democrat. You can be a moderate Republican here and have many friends. If you like public service you will have good benefits and make a lot more money here.

Collective bargaining for public employees.

We aren’t hurting and cutting like all y’all.

Well-funded universities, state colleges and technical schools.

I don’t like global warming, but we have had really warm winters lately. We have a really really good hockey here, and if you aren’t a hockey fan when you get here you will likely become one. We have excellent fishing and hunting and some huge Cabelas stores to get all set up. Plus tipped workers get $9.50 in Wisconsin the minimum is $2.33. No, you can’t have any of our extra money.

Huge state budget surplus.We are trying to figure out what to do with 1.65 billion extra dollars while you are trying to figure out how to cut $2 billion.

Wisconsin’s rate is the fifth highest in the U.S. Minnesota has an effective property tax rate lower than the national average. I pay Wisconsin taxes on a cabin and six acres. There is a labor shortage here, and it’s getting worse.

Median annual household income in Minnesota = $68,730 Wisconsin = $55,425. We used to play the American Motors Gremlins and Hornets. My little league team was called Sorenson Manufacturing. It’s of course not the same Wisconsin I grew up in – riding my bike by the gates of the American Motors - later Chrysler - plant in Kenosha, playing baseball next to the Snap-On factory, watching the bars open up and fill up with third-shift workers while heading off in the morning to school. I know Wisconsinites don’t like to hear this, and it makes many of them mad, but it’s true.Ī person could go on and on about politics and drill down into public-policy issues but I won’t. Paul for over 20 years and I can say with a fair amount of expertise that besides the Packers and Paul Smith, the outdoor writer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, it’s way better over here. I love Wisconsin, but, like many ex-Wisconsinites who have landed and settled in Minnesota, I know there is no way I am going to move back to my home state.

Wisconsin time zone now