Housing data for Waukesha (Waukesha County, city), WI
Waukesha (Waukesha County, city), WI has an estimated 71,233 residents and 31,481 homes (US Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey).
It is a city in Waukesha County.
41.2% of households rent.
The median gross rent is $1,219 a month.
Its population shrank measurably since 2015–2019 (−1.6%).
Figures last updated on .
- Residents
- 71,233 (±71)
- Housing units
- 31,481 (±610)
- Households that rent
- 41.2%
- Median gross rent
- $1,219
- Residents since 2015–2019
- −1.6%
What stands out in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)
Households that rent: 41.2% (±1.9 points) in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city), higher than in Waukesha County (24.0%).
Homes in buildings of 5 or more units: 28.6% (±2.1 points) in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city), higher than in Waukesha County (19.1%).
Median home value: $315,500 (±$7,127) in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city), lower than in Waukesha County ($398,200).
Median household income: $83,837 (±$3,179) in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city), lower than in Waukesha County ($106,076).
- Renters and owners in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)
- Types of homes in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)
- Home values in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)
- Income and affordability in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)
Housing in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city) at a glance
- Median rent: $1,219 median gross rent a month
- Rent by bedrooms: $1,270 median gross rent, 2 bedrooms
- Rent burden: 48.6% of renters pay 30% or more of income
- Renters and owners: 41.2% of households rent
- Income and affordability: $83,837 median household income
- Home values: $315,500 median home value
- Homeowner costs: $1,889 median monthly cost with a mortgage
- Property taxes: $4,511 median real estate taxes a year
- Types of homes: 28.6% of homes are in buildings of 5 or more units
- Bedrooms: 52.7% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms
- Age of homes: 51.2% of homes were built before 1980
- Vacancy rate: 3.2% rental vacancy rate
- Heating fuel: 68.6% heat with utility gas
- Commute and cars: 21.3 minutes average trip to work
- Crime reported to police: 115 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
- Growth: −1.6% residents since 2015–2019
- How long people stay: 26.2% moved in since 2020
- Crowding and facilities: 1.5% of homes have more than 1 person per room
Waukesha (Waukesha County, city) against Waukesha County, its state and the nation
| Waukesha (Waukesha County, city) | Waukesha County | Wisconsin | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 71,233 (±71) | 411,762 (exact) | 5,914,872 (exact) | 334,922,499 |
| Housing units | 31,481 (±610) | 175,591 (±121) | 2,778,572 (±1,533) | 143,775,355 |
| Households that rent | 41.2% (±1.9 points) | 24.0% (±0.8 points) | 32.2% (±0.3 points) | 34.8% |
| Median gross rent | $1,219 (±$41) | $1,356 (±$22) | $1,087 (±$4) | $1,413 |
| Median household income | $83,837 (±$3,179) | $106,076 (±$1,512) | $77,485 (±$455) | $80,734 |
| Median home value | $315,500 (±$7,127) | $398,200 (±$3,967) | $266,500 (±$1,051) | $332,700 |
| Median real estate taxes (a year) | $4,511 (±$91) | $4,554 (±$38) | $3,792 (±$12) | $3,119 |
| Built before 1980 | 51.2% (±2.7 points) | 48.2% (±1.1 points) | 57.0% (±0.3 points) | 49.7% |
| Average commute | 21.3 minutes (±0.8) | 22.6 minutes (±0.3) | 22.2 minutes (±0.1) | 26.4 minutes |
| Households with broadband | 94.3% (±0.9 points) | 94.0% (±0.5 points) | 90.3% (±0.2 points) | 91.0% |
| Median age of residents | 36.7 years (±0.9) | 43.5 years (±0.1) | 40.2 years (±0.1) | 38.9 years |
Waukesha (Waukesha County, city) covers 25.5 square miles of land, about 2,791 residents per square mile (Census Bureau Gazetteer).
How Waukesha (Waukesha County, city) has changed since 2015–2019
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Amount of change | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 72,412 (±51) | 71,233 (±71) | −1.6% | Measurable decrease |
| Housing units | 30,572 (±500) | 31,481 (±610) | +3.0% | Measurable increase |
| Median gross rent | $944 (±$16) | $1,219 (±$41) | +29.1% | Up after inflation |
| Median home value | $212,700 (±$3,799) | $315,500 (±$7,127) | +48.3% | Up after inflation |
| Median household income | $65,260 (±$1,971) | $83,837 (±$3,179) | +28.5% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median owner cost with a mortgage | $1,583 (±$28) | $1,889 (±$45) | +19.3% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median real estate taxes | $3,841 (±$50) | $4,511 (±$91) | +17.4% | Down after inflation |
| Households that rent | 41.9% (±1.4 points) | 41.2% (±1.9 points) | −0.7 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.6% (±1.7 points) | 3.2% (±1.2 points) | −0.4 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.
Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.
The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.
Crime reported to police in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)
In 2025, the Waukesha Police Department reported 115 violent and 917 property crimes per 100,000 residents to the FBI.
Across Waukesha County, the departments that report recorded 65 violent and 601 property crimes per 100,000 residents that year.
ZIP codes in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)
| ZIP code | Share of the ZIP’s land in this place | Residents | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53186 | 54% | 33,374 | $1,229 | $301,100 | $74,588 |
| 53188 | 42% | 34,892 | $1,268 | $348,600 | $92,409 |
| 53189 | 13% | 26,855 | $1,206 | $406,200 | $117,008 |
A ZIP code is a mail route rather than a boundary, so the Census Bureau publishes figures for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas built from census blocks; the share column says how much of each one’s land lies in this place.
Places near Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)
| Place | Distance | Median gross rent | Median home value | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukesha (Waukesha County, village) | 3.4 mi | $1,292 | $415,500 | 7.4% |
| Pewaukee (Waukesha County, city) | 3.9 mi | $1,622 | $447,100 | 16.8% |
| Town of Brookfield | 4.2 mi | $1,869 | $374,500 | 42.5% |
| Pewaukee (Waukesha County, village) | 5.4 mi | $1,260 | $281,800 | 38.6% |
| Town of Delafield | 5.9 mi | $2,003 | $613,300 | 7.7% |
| Wales | 6.3 mi | $1,322 | $399,400 | 15.2% |
| New Berlin | 6.4 mi | $1,426 | $365,700 | 23.5% |
| Town of Genesee | 6.5 mi | $1,482 | $437,500 | 9.7% |
Places in Wisconsin most like Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)
| Place | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartland | $1,230 | $393,100 | $87,754 | 37.5% |
| Lake Geneva | $1,389 | $343,800 | $75,629 | 45.2% |
| Grafton | $1,310 | $328,800 | $89,861 | 38.7% |
| Port Washington | $1,008 | $296,300 | $81,948 | 34.2% |
| East Troy | $1,436 | $299,600 | $79,669 | 38.7% |
| Elkhorn | $1,034 | $273,600 | $77,649 | 45.2% |
Matched on rent, home value, income, the share who rent, the age of the homes, the share in apartment buildings and the commute, each measured against the spread across Wisconsin.
HUD Fair Market Rent for Waukesha (Waukesha County, city), fiscal year 2027
| Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $985 | $1,060 | $1,263 | $1,553 | $1,664 |
HUD income limits for Waukesha (Waukesha County, city), fiscal year 2026
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $22,750 | $37,950 | $60,700 |
| 2 people | $26,000 | $43,400 | $69,400 |
| 3 people | $29,250 | $48,800 | $78,050 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $54,200 | $86,700 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $58,550 | $93,650 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $62,900 | $100,600 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $67,250 | $107,550 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $71,550 | $114,450 |
These are the limits HUD sets for its housing programs in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA, where HUD’s median family income for fiscal year 2026 is $108,400.
A program can use its own limits; tax-credit and local programs often do.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
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Questions about Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)
What is the average rent in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city), WI?
The Census Bureau publishes the median rather than the average: the median gross rent in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city) is $1,219 (±$41) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey), so half of renting households pay less and half pay more.
How much is a one-bedroom apartment in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)?
The median gross rent for a one-bedroom home in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city), WI is $1,023 (±$64) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Are renters in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city) rent-burdened?
48.6% of renting households in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city) pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
How many renters are there in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)?
Waukesha (Waukesha County, city) has an estimated 12,592 (±694) renting households, 41.2% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the median household income in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)?
The median household income in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city) is $83,837 (±$3,179) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average home value in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city), WI?
The Census Bureau publishes the median: $315,500 (±$7,127) for owner-occupied homes in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city) (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Is Waukesha (Waukesha County, city) growing?
In Waukesha (Waukesha County, city), the number of residents went from 72,412 in 2015–2019 to 71,233 in 2020–2024 (−1.6%), a measurable decrease.
What ZIP codes are in Waukesha (Waukesha County, city)?
The ZIP codes that cover Waukesha (Waukesha County, city) are 53186, 53188, 53189.
What is the median rent in ZIP code 53186?
The median gross rent in ZIP Code Tabulation Area 53186 is $1,229 (±$48) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Sources
- Demographic and Housing Estimates (DP05), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Waukesha city, Wisconsin
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Waukesha city, Wisconsin
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Waukesha city, Wisconsin
- Median Real Estate Taxes Paid by Mortgage Status (B25103), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Waukesha city, Wisconsin
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Waukesha city, Wisconsin
- Total Population (B01003), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Waukesha city, Wisconsin
- Median Gross Rent (B25064), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Waukesha city, Wisconsin
- HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA
- HUD Income Limits, fiscal year 2026: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer: Waukesha Police Department (ORI WI0680500)
- FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting statistics and their proper use
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, US Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages 2019 and 2024
- US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files
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 Waukesha city, Wisconsin (place:84250, in state:55).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The 2015–2019 figures are B01003_001E, B01003_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
DP05_0001E, DP05_0001M, DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M, DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M
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.
Figures last updated on .