What it's like to live in Cedarburg
Cedarburg is a small city in Wisconsin with rent below the national average, county unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Cedarburg deals with home prices well above the national average, cold winters, snowy winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
The not so good
- High home prices
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 54" per year
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Cedarburg compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Cedarburg
Based on Cedarburg's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,232
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $44,640 a year
- 39% of Cedarburg renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$84,400
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $42,200
- Homes cost 5.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 21% below US
$1,116/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,116 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $422,000. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $422,000 · 39% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
2.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Ozaukee County is 2.8%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Ozaukee County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 63% below US
121 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 340/100k · Cedarburg Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 14% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 16% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 19°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 60% above US
58% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ice Age National Scenic Trail (92 miles away).
Bottom line
Cedarburg's strongest points are rent below the national average and county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,116/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), and anyone prioritizing low crime.
Other places near Cedarburg
All Wisconsin guides →Moving to Port Washington →
8 mi away · pop. 12,645
Rent $1,008/mo · Income $81,948
Compare with Cedarburg →Moving to Germantown →
8 mi away · pop. 20,962
Rent $1,355/mo · Income $100,231
Compare with Cedarburg →Not sure Cedarburg is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.