How many renters in Milwaukee, WI pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

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

50.9% (±1.5 points) of renting households in Milwaukee, WI spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

42.3% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 30.5% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 50.9% (±1.5 points)
Paying 35% or more: 42.3% (±1.3 points)
Median share of income: 30.5% (±0.8 points)

Rent as a share of income in Milwaukee

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Milwaukee	Milwaukee County	Wisconsin	United States
Less than 15%	14.5% (±1.1 points)	14.4%	16.7%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	12.0% (±0.8 points)	13.4%	14.9%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	12.0% (±0.8 points)	12.6%	13.5%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	10.7% (±0.7 points)	11.1%	11.3%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	8.6% (±0.8 points)	8.3%	8.7%	9.2%
35% or more	42.3% (±1.3 points)	40.1%	35.0%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Milwaukee against Milwaukee County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Milwaukee	Milwaukee County	Wisconsin	United States
Paying 30% or more	50.9% (±1.5 points)	48.4% (±1.3 points)	43.7% (±0.6 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	42.3% (±1.3 points)	40.1% (±1.1 points)	35.0% (±0.5 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	30.5% (±0.8 points)	29.3% (±0.5 points)	27.2% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$41,063 (±$1,025)	$44,490 (±$969)	$48,374 (±$478)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,059 (±$11)	$1,101 (±$8)	$1,087 (±$4)	$1,413

In Milwaukee, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in Milwaukee County (48.4%).

It is also higher than in Wisconsin (43.7%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Milwaukee County, Milwaukee ranks 5 of 19 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 345 of 1,813.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Milwaukee

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Milwaukee
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Milwaukee	—	50.9% (±1.5 points)	—
Wauwatosa	3.5 mi	43.1% (±5.8 points)	Lower
West Milwaukee	3.5 mi	45.5% (±17.6 points)	Not measurably different
Shorewood	4.5 mi	43.1% (±7.0 points)	Lower
Glendale	4.8 mi	58.1% (±12.2 points)	Not measurably different
Whitefish Bay	4.8 mi	47.9% (±13.5 points)	Not measurably different
West Allis	5.0 mi	40.7% (±5.4 points)	Lower
Butler	6.2 mi	37.9% (±15.9 points)	Not measurably different
Elm Grove	6.2 mi	37.6% (±25.0 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Wauwatosa, WI (43.1%), Shorewood, WI (43.1%), West Allis, WI (40.7%).

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

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Milwaukee County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Bayside	76.8% (±21.3 points)
2	River Hills	60.0% (±47.6 points)
3	Glendale	58.1% (±12.2 points)
4	Franklin	52.4% (±9.1 points)
5	Milwaukee	50.9% (±1.5 points)
6	Greendale	50.5% (±12.1 points)
7	Hales Corners	49.2% (±14.2 points)
8	Whitefish Bay	47.9% (±13.5 points)
9	Brown Deer	46.7% (±13.3 points)
10	West Milwaukee	45.5% (±17.6 points)
11	St. Francis	45.4% (±12.6 points)

Showing 11 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

Are renters in Milwaukee rent-burdened?

50.9% of renting households in Milwaukee pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Milwaukee spend on rent?

The median renting household in Milwaukee, WI spends 30.5% (±0.8 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

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) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) 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_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

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.