What it's like to live in Waukesha
Waukesha is a smaller city in Wisconsin with rent below the national average, 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. Waukesha deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, cold, harsh winters, snowy winters, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 37" per year
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Waukesha compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Waukesha
Based on Waukesha's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,438
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $48,760 a year
- 47% of Waukesha renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$63,100
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $31,550
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 14% below US
$1,219/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,219 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $315,500. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $315,500 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 33% below US
2.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.9%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 65% below US
115 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 917/100k · Waukesha Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 18% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.3 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 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 15°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 16% above US
42% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 42% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
27 public schools inside the boundary
There are 27 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, 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 (95 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Waukesha's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($1,219/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
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