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Living in
Oshkosh.
About
Life in Oshkosh
Oshkosh offers an affordable Midwest living experience with a median home value around $177,700 and median household income near $62,000, paired with a low 2.7% unemployment rate that reflects a stable job market. The city's economy is anchored by Oshkosh Corporation and other manufacturing employers, plus tourism tied to EAA AirVenture and Lake Winnebago recreation, though this means certain times of year—especially aviation season—bring crowds and higher activity. You'll find a German-American cultural foundation woven through the community, plus a growing Hmong population that adds diversity.
Oshkosh at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.5%
Foreign-Born
3.8%
Broadband Internet
91.5%
of households
Population Growth
+0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Oshkosh: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Oshkosh, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (13.8%), and 2.4% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
17.3%
of residents
65 and Older
15.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.9%
of households
Married Couples
33.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.20
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 14% below WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Oshkosh
In Oshkosh, rent runs 14% below the WI average, and home values are 33% below the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,401
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $260,125 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Oshkosh
Unemployment in Oshkosh 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 Oshkosh Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.1 min avg
How Oshkosh residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Oshkosh, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
Appleton International Airport (ATW)
Small hub629k passengers boarded in 2025
- 81 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 144 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 22% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Oshkosh runs 22% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
256.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,307.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Oshkosh Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
86.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Winnebago County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Winnebago County, which includes Oshkosh, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 7 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2023 | 13 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 8 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 9 | Winter Storm | $2,000 |
| 2018 | 9 | Winter Storm | $4,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Winnebago County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Fond du Lac County, WI (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 19 miles from Oshkosh) is typically good — 182 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
182
per year
Moderate Days
17
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Fond du Lac County, WI (19 mi away)
Climate80°F summers, 14°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Oshkosh has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 14°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
29°/14°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
33.3"
Annual Snowfall
39.2"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
143
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°F | 10°F | 1.34" |
| Feb | 30°F | 13°F | 1.11" |
| Mar | 41°F | 24°F | 1.92" |
| Apr | 54°F | 36°F | 3.21" |
| May | 67°F | 48°F | 3.94" |
| Jun | 77°F | 59°F | 4.82" |
| Jul | 82°F | 63°F | 3.76" |
| Aug | 80°F | 61°F | 3.40" |
| Sep | 73°F | 53°F | 3.26" |
| Oct | 59°F | 41°F | 2.89" |
| Nov | 44°F | 29°F | 2.05" |
| Dec | 32°F | 18°F | 1.59" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Oshkosh
Oshkosh has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Aurora Medical Ctr Oshkosh
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Thedacare Regional Med Ctr - Neenah
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.7 mi away · Neenah
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.
Education12.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Oshkosh
Oshkosh's student/teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 27.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
24
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Public · 4-year · 6,877 students · in-state tuition $8,993 · 60% graduate · median earnings $59,275 (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, 50 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Oshkosh
Oshkosh has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (50 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
50 mi awayPublic Libraries in Oshkosh
Oshkosh Public Library
106 Washington Ave., Oshkosh
Cities Near Oshkosh
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Oshkosh?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Oshkosh FAQ
Is Oshkosh, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Oshkosh's median rent is $935/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $62,188/year. Median home value is $177,700.
Is Oshkosh, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Oshkosh's violent crime rate was 257 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1307 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Oshkosh, Wisconsin?⌄
Oshkosh has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Oshkosh, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Oshkosh is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $935/month and median household income is $62,188/year. The median home value is $177,700. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Oshkosh, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Oshkosh is 18 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