What it's like to live in Port Washington
Port Washington is a small city in Wisconsin with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Port Washington deals with cold, harsh winters, snowy winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 42" per year
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Port Washington compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Port Washington
Based on Port Washington's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,016
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $40,320 a year
- 44% of Port Washington renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$59,260
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,630
- Homes cost 3.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 29% below US
$1,008/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,008 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $296,300. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $296,300 · 44% 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▼ 81% below US
62 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 226/100k · Port Washington Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 19% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 76°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 17°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 11% above US
40% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 40% 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 13:1, well below 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 (94 miles away).
Bottom line
Port Washington's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are cold, harsh winters and snowy winters. A year of median rent ($1,008/mo) equals 15% 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. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
See all the data for Port Washington →·All Wisconsin cities →
Other places near Port Washington
All Wisconsin guides →Moving to Grafton →
5 mi away · pop. 12,445
Rent $1,310/mo · Income $89,861
Compare with Port Washington →Moving to Cedarburg →
8 mi away · pop. 12,605
Rent $1,116/mo · Income $84,896
Compare with Port Washington →Moving to Mequon →
11 mi away · pop. 25,270
Rent $2,157/mo · Income $144,051
Compare with Port Washington →Moving to West Bend →
15 mi away · pop. 32,030
Rent $1,076/mo · Income $74,076
Compare with Port Washington →Not sure Port Washington is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.