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Living in
Brookfield.
About
Life in Brookfield
If you're considering Brookfield, you're looking at a prosperous, settled suburb where financial stability and good schools are the main draws. Median household income sits around $130,000, home values average $443,900, and the unemployment rate is low at 3.0%—this is a community where people have established themselves and aren't going anywhere. The Elmbrook School District is genuinely excellent and the top-ranked public district in Wisconsin, which explains why nearly two-thirds of households include families with children.
Brookfield at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Foreign-Born
11.6%
Broadband Internet
95.6%
of households
Population Growth
0.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.6% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Brookfield: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Brookfield, the largest foreign-born group is from India (37.5%), and 3.7% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
23.8%
of residents
65 and Older
23.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.2%
of households
Married Couples
63.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.53
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 74% above WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Brookfield
In Brookfield, rent runs 74% above the WI average, and home values are 67% above the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,389
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
82.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $524,360 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Brookfield and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Brookfield is close to the WI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Brookfield Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI metro area
Commute20.7 min avg
How Brookfield residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Brookfield, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 76 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 81% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Brookfield runs 81% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
63.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
795.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Brookfield Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
88.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Waukesha County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Waukesha County, which includes Brookfield, the most common type is winter weather, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Winter Weather | $99.0M |
| 2024 | 22 | Winter Weather | $193,500 |
| 2023 | 19 | Winter Storm | $37,500 |
| 2022 | 30 | Winter Weather | $125,500 |
| 2021 | 17 | Winter Weather | $169,500 |
| 2020 | 23 | Winter Weather | $67,000 |
| 2019 | 29 | Winter Weather | $2.6M |
| 2018 | 29 | Winter Weather | $55,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Waukesha County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Waukesha County, which includes Brookfield, is typically good — 242 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
242
per year
Moderate Days
113
per year
Unhealthy Days
3
per year
Waukesha County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 15°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Brookfield has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 15°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
31°/15°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.9"
Annual Snowfall
39.5"
Hot Days/Year
7
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
149
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
135
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 12°F | 1.59" |
| Feb | 32°F | 15°F | 1.56" |
| Mar | 42°F | 25°F | 2.06" |
| Apr | 54°F | 35°F | 3.71" |
| May | 67°F | 47°F | 3.94" |
| Jun | 77°F | 56°F | 4.80" |
| Jul | 81°F | 61°F | 3.82" |
| Aug | 79°F | 60°F | 3.97" |
| Sep | 72°F | 51°F | 3.21" |
| Oct | 59°F | 40°F | 3.09" |
| Nov | 45°F | 29°F | 2.19" |
| Dec | 33°F | 19°F | 1.96" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Brookfield
Uninsured
2.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Brookfield's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Milwaukee
Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin
Childrens · ER available · 5.4 mi away · Milwaukee
Aurora Psychiatric Hospital
Psychiatric · 5.9 mi away · Wauwatosa
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Brookfield
Brookfield's student/teacher ratio is 15.7:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 64.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
64.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Brookfield (within 15 miles)
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
12.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 16,758 students · in-state tuition $10,916 · 56% graduate · median earnings $59,268 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,660 students · in-state tuition $53,270 · 81% graduate · median earnings $83,810 (10 yrs after entry)
Milwaukee School of Engineering
11 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,654 students · in-state tuition $52,228 · 73% graduate · median earnings $92,761 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,523 students · in-state tuition $40,680 · 67% graduate · median earnings $64,501 (10 yrs after entry)
Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa
3.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 1,037 students · in-state tuition $20,497 · 37% graduate · median earnings $37,469 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 943 students · in-state tuition $37,360 · 63% graduate · median earnings $68,940 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 96 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Brookfield
Brookfield has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (96 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
96 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Brookfield
Brookfield Public Library
1900 N. Calhoun Rd., Brookfield
Cities Near Brookfield
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Brookfield?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Brookfield FAQ
Is Brookfield, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Brookfield's median rent is $1,886/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $129,548/year. Median home value is $443,900.
Is Brookfield, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Brookfield's violent crime rate was 63 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 796 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Brookfield, Wisconsin?⌄
Brookfield has an unemployment rate of 3.0%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Brookfield, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Brookfield is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,886/month and median household income is $129,548/year. The median home value is $443,900. About 35% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Brookfield, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Brookfield is 21 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from