What it's like to live in Pewaukee
Pewaukee 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. Pewaukee deals with home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, 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
The not so good
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 37" per year
How Pewaukee compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Pewaukee
Based on Pewaukee's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,244
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $64,880 a year
- 28% of Pewaukee renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$89,420
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $44,710
- Homes cost 4.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 15% above US
$1,622/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,622 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 $447,100. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $447,100 · 28% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
2.9% county unemployment
Unemployment in Waukesha County is 2.9%, 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.
Waukesha County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 78% below US
73 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1276/100k · Pewaukee Village Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 25% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 22% 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 15°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 59% above US
57% 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
0 public schools inside the boundary
No public school is located inside the boundary; students attend schools in the surrounding district. There are 2 private schools inside it.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ice Age National Scenic Trail (92 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Pewaukee's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,622/mo) equals 18% 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 (22% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Pewaukee
All Wisconsin guides →Moving to Brookfield →
6 mi away · pop. 41,273
Rent $1,886/mo · Income $129,548
Compare with Pewaukee →Moving to Menomonee Falls →
8 mi away · pop. 39,539
Rent $1,313/mo · Income $100,238
Compare with Pewaukee →Not sure Pewaukee is the one?
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