What it's like to live in Whitefish Bay
Whitefish Bay is a small city in Wisconsin with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Whitefish Bay deals with home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a population that has been shrinking, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 40" per year
How Whitefish Bay compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Whitefish Bay
Based on Whitefish Bay's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,670
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $53,400 a year
- 45% of Whitefish Bay renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$106,760
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $53,380
- Homes cost 3.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,335/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,335 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are steep, with a median around $533,800. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $533,800 · 45% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.0% county unemployment
Unemployment in Milwaukee County is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Milwaukee County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 96% below US
14 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 728/100k · Whitefish Bay Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 20% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 27% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 17°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 128% above US
82% 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
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. 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 Pullman National Historical Park (99 miles away).
Bottom line
Whitefish Bay's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below 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 ($1,335/mo) equals 10% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (27% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Whitefish Bay
All Wisconsin guides →Moving to Shorewood →
2 mi away · pop. 13,627
Rent $1,347/mo · Income $86,726
Compare with Whitefish Bay →Moving to Glendale →
2 mi away · pop. 13,656
Rent $1,432/mo · Income $78,092
Compare with Whitefish Bay →Moving to Milwaukee →
5 mi away · pop. 566,973
Rent $1,059/mo · Income $54,234
Compare with Whitefish Bay →Moving to Brown Deer →
6 mi away · pop. 12,564
Rent $1,183/mo · Income $93,974
Compare with Whitefish Bay →Not sure Whitefish Bay is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.