© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Brown Deer.
About
Life in Brown Deer
Brown Deer is a community of 12,615 people in Wisconsin. The median household income is $93,974, median rent runs about $1,183 per month, and median home values are around $239,300. Unemployment is low at 4.0%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Brown Deer at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.9%
Foreign-Born
7.3%
Broadband Internet
93.5%
of households
Population Growth
+2.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Brown Deer: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Brown Deer, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (10.3%), and 4.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.6%
of residents
65 and Older
19.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.5%
of households
Married Couples
46.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.15
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 9% above WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Brown Deer
In Brown Deer, rent runs 9% above the WI average, and home values are 10% below the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,826
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $290,285 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above WI average
Unemployment in Brown Deer and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Milwaukee County, which includes Brown Deer, is 0.8 percentage points higher than the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Brown Deer: Milwaukee County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Milwaukee County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Brown Deer is about 1% of Milwaukee County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Brown Deer 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
Commute22.4 min avg
How Brown Deer residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Brown Deer, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 83 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 13% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Brown Deer runs 13% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
287.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,803.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Brown Deer Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 27 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Milwaukee County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Milwaukee County, which includes Brown Deer, the most common type is winter weather, with 27 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | Winter Weather | $65.8M |
| 2024 | 20 | Winter Weather | $87,500 |
| 2023 | 22 | Winter Storm | $97,500 |
| 2022 | 31 | Winter Weather | $116,500 |
| 2021 | 20 | Winter Weather | $21,000 |
| 2020 | 23 | Winter Weather | $10.9M |
| 2019 | 32 | Winter Weather | $66,500 |
| 2018 | 34 | Winter Weather | $555,500 |
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
Milwaukee County, county-wide
Brown Deer is about 1% of Milwaukee County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Milwaukee County, which includes Brown Deer, is typically good — 228 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
228
per year
Moderate Days
121
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Milwaukee County, county-wide
Brown Deer is about 1% of Milwaukee County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Brown Deer has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.3"
Annual Snowfall
39.5"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
134
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
130
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 14°F | 1.48" |
| Feb | 34°F | 17°F | 1.49" |
| Mar | 44°F | 26°F | 1.79" |
| Apr | 56°F | 36°F | 3.71" |
| May | 68°F | 48°F | 3.73" |
| Jun | 78°F | 58°F | 4.84" |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 3.57" |
| Aug | 81°F | 62°F | 3.68" |
| Sep | 74°F | 53°F | 3.02" |
| Oct | 61°F | 42°F | 2.73" |
| Nov | 47°F | 30°F | 2.05" |
| Dec | 35°F | 21°F | 1.73" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Brown Deer
Uninsured
4.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Brown Deer's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Ascension Wisconsin Hosp Menomonee Falls Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Menomonee Falls
Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin
Acute Care Hospitals · 6.1 mi away · Glendale
Ascension Se Wisconsin Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7 mi away · Milwaukee
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.
Education14.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Brown Deer
Brown Deer's student/teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 40.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Brown Deer (within 15 miles)
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
8.2 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
9.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,654 students · in-state tuition $52,228 · 73% graduate · median earnings $92,761 (10 yrs after entry)
Concordia University-Wisconsin
6.2 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,197 students · in-state tuition $36,530 · 58% graduate · median earnings $61,992 (10 yrs after entry)
Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa
9.8 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, 97 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Brown Deer
Brown Deer has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (97 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
97 mi awayPublic Libraries in Brown Deer
Brown Deer Public Library
4301 W Brown Deer Rd Ste 1, Brown Deer
Cities Near Brown Deer
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Brown Deer?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Brown Deer FAQ
Is Brown Deer, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Brown Deer's median rent is $1,183/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $93,974/year. Median home value is $239,300.
Is Brown Deer, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Brown Deer's violent crime rate was 288 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2804 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Brown Deer, Wisconsin?⌄
Milwaukee County, which includes Brown Deer, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Brown Deer, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Brown Deer is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,183/month and median household income is $93,974/year. The median home value is $239,300. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Brown Deer, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Brown Deer is 22 minutes, which is about 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