What kinds of homes are in Milwaukee, WI?

Name: Types of homes in Milwaukee, WI, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Milwaukee, WI has 259,101 (±1,453) homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is about 2,694 homes per square mile of land.

39.1% are detached single-family houses.

29.0% are in buildings of two to four units.

27.2% are in buildings of five or more units.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Housing units: 259,101 (±1,453)
Detached houses: 39.1%
2–4 unit buildings: 29.0%
5+ unit buildings: 27.2%

Homes in Milwaukee by building size

Housing units by units in structure, 2020–2024
Building type	Milwaukee	Milwaukee County	Wisconsin	United States
Single-family, detached	39.1% (±0.8 points)	45.2%	66.2%	61.3%
Single-family, attached (townhouse, rowhouse)	4.3% (±0.3 points)	4.4%	4.3%	6.2%
2 units	21.5% (±0.7 points)	16.3%	5.9%	3.4%
3 or 4 units	7.5% (±0.5 points)	6.0%	3.5%	4.3%
5 to 9 units	5.8% (±0.4 points)	6.2%	4.9%	4.5%
10 to 19 units	3.8% (±0.3 points)	4.2%	3.7%	4.3%
20 or more units	17.6% (±0.5 points)	17.1%	8.4%	10.3%
Mobile home	0.4% (±0.1 points)	0.5%	3.1%	5.6%
Boat, RV, van, etc.	0.0% (±0.1 points)	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%

In Milwaukee, the share of homes in buildings of five or more units is not measurably different from Milwaukee County (27.5%).

It is also higher than in Wisconsin (17.0%).

It is higher than the national figure (19.1%).

Homes in buildings of 5 or more units in places near Milwaukee

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Milwaukee
Place	Distance	Homes in buildings of 5 or more units	Compared with this place
Milwaukee	—	27.2% (±0.7 points)	—
Wauwatosa	3.5 mi	26.4% (±2.4 points)	Not measurably different
West Milwaukee	3.5 mi	35.6% (±11.6 points)	Not measurably different
Shorewood	4.5 mi	36.1% (±4.7 points)	Higher
Glendale	4.8 mi	30.0% (±4.5 points)	Not measurably different
Whitefish Bay	4.8 mi	9.3% (±2.5 points)	Lower
West Allis	5.0 mi	26.2% (±2.7 points)	Not measurably different
Butler	6.2 mi	39.4% (±10.9 points)	Higher
Elm Grove	6.2 mi	14.0% (±4.3 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Whitefish Bay, WI (9.3%), Elm Grove, WI (14.0%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Shorewood, WI (36.1%), Butler, WI (39.4%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes in buildings of 5 or more units across Milwaukee County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes in buildings of 5 or more units
2	St. Francis	36.4% (±6.1 points)
3	Shorewood	36.1% (±4.7 points)
4	West Milwaukee	35.6% (±11.6 points)
5	Oak Creek	34.1% (±3.3 points)
6	Glendale	30.0% (±4.5 points)
7	Brown Deer	29.8% (±5.3 points)
8	Milwaukee	27.2% (±0.7 points)
9	Wauwatosa	26.4% (±2.4 points)
10	West Allis	26.2% (±2.7 points)
11	Hales Corners	26.1% (±7.0 points)
12	Franklin	25.5% (±3.7 points)
13	Fox Point	23.2% (±8.2 points)
14	Cudahy	20.4% (±3.8 points)

Showing 13 of 19 places in Milwaukee County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Milwaukee

How many homes are in Milwaukee?

Milwaukee, WI has an estimated 259,101 (±1,453) housing units, occupied and vacant (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Are most homes in Milwaukee houses or apartments?

39.1% are detached houses and 4.3% attached houses, while 56.2% are in buildings of two or more units.

How many two-family and small multifamily homes are in Milwaukee?

29.0% of homes in Milwaukee are in buildings of two to four units, the small rental buildings that are often owner-occupied.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Milwaukee city, Wisconsin

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Milwaukee city, Wisconsin (place:53000, in state:55).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0007PE, DP04_0007PM, DP04_0008PE, DP04_0008PM, DP04_0009PE, DP04_0009PM, DP04_0010PE, DP04_0010PM, DP04_0011PE, DP04_0011PM, DP04_0012PE, DP04_0012PM, DP04_0013PE, DP04_0013PM, DP04_0014PE, DP04_0014PM, DP04_0015PE, DP04_0015PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.