Milwaukee, Wisconsin has an overall cost of living index of 95.7, which is 4.3 points below the US average of 100 — making it more affordable than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,059 per month, while the typical home is valued around $184,000. Households earn a median of $54,234 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is good, with an average AQI of 22. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$54,234
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,059
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$184,000
Median Home Value
Census ACS
95.7
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,027
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,119
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,338
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$1,648
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
95.7
Goods
93.8
Rents / Housing
94.0
Services
91.4
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $114,100 |
| Registered Nurse | $91,040 |
| Elementary Teacher | $70,320 |
| Electrician | $74,520 |
| Accountant | $90,070 |
| Plumber | $86,970 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $239,970 |
| Civil Engineer | $98,170 |
| Operations Manager | $141,590 |
| Market Research Analyst | $76,870 |
| Health Services Manager | $154,460 |
| Truck Driver | $58,540 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $99,870 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
566,973
Latest estimate
Median Age
32.4 yrs
Census ACS
22.0
Good0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
33
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,065
Per month
Avg Home Value
$206,553
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 53022 | — | $1,270 | $330,900 |
| ZIP 53051 | — | $1,217 | $312,100 |
| ZIP 53154 | — | $1,312 | $282,500 |
| ZIP 53202 | — | $1,164 | $287,100 |
| ZIP 53203 | — | $1,714 | $412,800 |
| ZIP 53204 | — | $891 | $93,900 |
| ZIP 53205 | — | $771 | $118,500 |
| ZIP 53206 | — | $936 | $61,400 |
| ZIP 53207 | — | $1,084 | $206,200 |
| ZIP 53208 | — | $868 | $178,300 |
Showing top 10 of 33 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
23°F
July Avg
73°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Continental · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
31.0
poor
Hospitals
8
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
90.9%
Milwaukee has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 95.7. The US national average is 100, so Milwaukee is 4.3 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Milwaukee is $1,059 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Milwaukee is $54,234 per year.
The median home value in Milwaukee is $184,000 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Milwaukee has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 22.0, which is rated "Good" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Wisconsin is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
