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Living in
Janesville.
About
Life in Janesville
Janesville offers a genuine middle-ground option if you're looking for a Wisconsin city with actual amenities and economic stability without premium pricing. The median home value hovers around $223,400, and rent averages just over $1,000 monthly—genuinely affordable for a city this size. Jobs are reasonably available with unemployment sitting at 3.2%, though the economy here isn't flashy; you'll find steady work in healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and regional businesses rather than tech or major corporate headquarters.
Janesville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.0%
Foreign-Born
3.8%
Broadband Internet
91.3%
of households
Population Growth
+2.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Janesville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Janesville, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (44.8%), and 5.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.2%
of residents
65 and Older
18.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.2%
of households
Married Couples
44.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
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 about average for WI
Rent, home values, and income in Janesville
In Janesville, home values are 16% below the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,736
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $296,361 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Janesville
Unemployment in Janesville 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 Janesville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.9 min avg
How Janesville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Janesville, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 34 mi
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
Regional airport · few flights146k passengers boarded in 2025
- 60 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 75 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 63% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Janesville runs 63% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
121.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,568.5
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Janesville Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
86.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Rock County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Rock County, which includes Janesville, 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 | $78,000 |
| 2024 | 35 | Thunderstorm Wind | $31.9M |
| 2023 | 15 | Winter Storm | $877,000 |
| 2022 | 27 | Winter Weather | $197,000 |
| 2021 | 18 | Winter Weather | $25,000 |
| 2020 | 18 | Winter Weather | $70,000 |
| 2019 | 29 | Winter Weather | $49,000 |
| 2018 | 31 | Winter Weather | $125,500 |
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
Rock County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Rock County, which includes Janesville, is typically good.
Median AQI
42
Rock County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 15°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Janesville has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 15°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
31°/15°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.4"
Annual Snowfall
36.6"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
148
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 12°F | 1.63" |
| Feb | 32°F | 15°F | 1.61" |
| Mar | 45°F | 25°F | 2.06" |
| Apr | 58°F | 36°F | 3.57" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 4.09" |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 4.99" |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 4.19" |
| Aug | 82°F | 60°F | 4.34" |
| Sep | 75°F | 51°F | 3.73" |
| Oct | 62°F | 40°F | 2.99" |
| Nov | 46°F | 29°F | 2.33" |
| Dec | 34°F | 18°F | 1.90" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Janesville
Janesville has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
5.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.5 / 5
Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital - Janesville
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Mercy Health System Corp
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Beloit Health System
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.5 mi away · Beloit
Edgerton Hospital and Health Services
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 10.4 mi away · Edgerton
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.
Education12.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Janesville
Janesville's student/teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 27.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
23
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Janesville (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 926 students · in-state tuition $62,586 · 71% graduate · median earnings $59,443 (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, 94 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Janesville
Janesville has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (94 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
94 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Janesville
Hedberg Public Library
316 S. Main St., Janesville
Hedberg Public Library Express
2500 Milton Ave. Suite 120, Janesville
Cities Near Janesville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Janesville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Janesville FAQ
Is Janesville, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Janesville's median rent is $1,054/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $73,446/year. Median home value is $223,400.
Is Janesville, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Janesville's violent crime rate was 122 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 1569 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Janesville, Wisconsin?⌄
Janesville has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Janesville, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Janesville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,054/month and median household income is $73,446/year. The median home value is $223,400. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Janesville, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Janesville 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