Wisconsin has older housing, with about 32% of units built before 1960 and a median build year of 1976. Older Milwaukee, Madison and small-city neighborhoods have plaster-and-lath walls, and Milwaukee also has Cream City brick houses, while newer suburbs are wood-frame with drywall.

median year homes were built: 1976; median year homes were built
built in 2000 or later: 23.4%; built in 2000 or later
built before 1960: 32.4%; built before 1960
single-family homes: 70.3%; single-family homes
in buildings with 5+ units: 17.5%; in buildings with 5+ units
mobile homes: 3%; mobile homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (tables B25035, B25034, B25024)

Common wall types

Wood-stud walls with drywall

Where: Most single-family houses, including newer suburbs around Madison, Green Bay and Milwaukee.

Mounting: Studs are typically 16 inches on center. Lag the mount into studs.

Plaster on lath

Where: Pre-1960 houses and duplexes in Milwaukee, Madison and cities such as Racine, Kenosha and Eau Claire.

Mounting: Plaster is brittle; locate studs and pre-drill slowly. Toggles suit light loads only.

Solid brick (including Cream City brick)

Where: 19th- and early-20th-century houses and buildings in Milwaukee.

Mounting: Use concrete screws or sleeve anchors into solid brick, avoiding mortar joints. Cream City brick is softer than modern brick, so use care and avoid over-tightening.

Poured concrete and block basement walls

Where: Finished basements used for home theaters across the state.

Mounting: Furred walls need studs found behind the drywall; bare walls need masonry anchors. Moisture control matters before building an enclosed media wall.

Log and thin-panel walls

Where: Cabins in northern Wisconsin; manufactured homes (about 3% of units).

Mounting: Mount to a framed panel on log walls; locate framing and add blocking on manufactured-home walls.

Tips before you mount

Stud walls: studs are usually 16" on center. Lag the mount into at least two studs with 5/16" lag bolts, typically about 2.5" to 3" long; a full-motion arm puts far more leverage on the wall than a flat mount, so it should never hang on drywall anchors alone.
Plaster and lath: locate framing with a stud finder, pre-drill with a small bit, and use snap toggles or toggle bolts for light loads. Heavy TVs and arms should reach studs.
Brick walls in Milwaukee: use 1/4" concrete screws or 3/8" sleeve or wedge anchors with a hammer drill, drilling into the solid brick face rather than mortar joints. Softer historic brick can chip, so drill carefully.
Basement theaters: if walls are poured concrete or block, build a framed wall with studs and a vapor-aware assembly, or use concrete anchors for direct mounting.
Hiding wires: the National Electrical Code (NEC 400.12) does not allow a regular TV power cord to run inside the wall. Use an in-wall rated recessed power kit, and choose low-voltage cables rated CL2 or CL3 for in-wall HDMI and speaker runs. Plaster and masonry walls make in-wall runs harder, so a paintable surface raceway is often cleaner.
Over a fireplace: check the TV maker's heat limits and measure the surface temperature after the fireplace has run. If the mantel or surround is hot, mount the TV elsewhere or use a deeper mantel and a pull-down mount. Fireplaces and wood stoves are common in Wisconsin.
Outdoor TVs: for porches and decks, use an outdoor-rated TV and stainless-steel or coated hardware, and plan for freeze-thaw and winter storage rules from the TV maker.
Before work starts, tell the installer the wall type (studs, plaster, masonry or concrete), the TV size and weight and the mount type. These change the anchors, labor time and price.

Sources: Census Reporter, ACS 2024 1-year: Wisconsin (B25035, B25034, B25024) · Wikipedia: Cream City brick · Shepherd Express: Cream City brick helped build Milwaukee's reputation. General guidance only — your installer will confirm the right method for your wall.