What it's like to live in Germantown
Germantown is a small city in Wisconsin with county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above 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. Germantown deals with a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold, harsh winters, and snowy winters.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 54" per year
How Germantown compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Germantown
Based on Germantown's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,710
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $54,200 a year
- 50% of Germantown renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$74,720
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,360
- Homes cost 3.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,355/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,355 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $373,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $373,600 · 50% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
2.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Washington 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.
Washington County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 86% below US
48 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 907/100k · Germantown Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 19% 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 14°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 32% above US
47% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 47% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 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 (89 miles away).
Bottom line
Germantown's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($1,355/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (19% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Germantown
All Wisconsin guides →Moving to Menomonee Falls →
6 mi away · pop. 39,539
Rent $1,313/mo · Income $100,238
Compare with Germantown →Moving to Richfield →
6 mi away · pop. 11,755
Rent $1,388/mo · Income $143,963
Compare with Germantown →Moving to Cedarburg →
8 mi away · pop. 12,605
Rent $1,116/mo · Income $84,896
Compare with Germantown →Not sure Germantown is the one?
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