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Living in
Shorewood.
About
Life in Shorewood
This compact Milwaukee suburb sits in one of the tightest, most walkable spots in Wisconsin—nestled between the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan with just 1.59 square miles to its name. What you're really buying into is a dense, educated community where 78.5% of residents hold college degrees and the median household income hits $86,726, which means you're looking at a fairly affluent demographic, though that's reflected in housing costs around $443,700 for homes and $1,291 monthly for rentals. The job market is stable with unemployment at just 4.0%, and most people commute about 22 minutes, typically into Milwaukee proper or the broader metro area—this isn't a place where you work locally, so you need to be comfortable with that reality.
Shorewood at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.3%
Foreign-Born
9.1%
Broadband Internet
90.9%
of households
Population Growth
-2.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.1% foreign-born, most often from Korea
Who lives in Shorewood: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Shorewood, the largest foreign-born group is from Korea (14.2%), and 5.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.1%
of residents
65 and Older
17.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.3%
of households
Married Couples
40.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.06
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 24% above WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Shorewood
In Shorewood, rent runs 24% above the WI average, and home values are 66% above the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,688
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
45.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
3.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $555,672 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above WI average
Unemployment in Shorewood and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Milwaukee County, which includes Shorewood, is 0.8 percentage points higher than the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Shorewood: Milwaukee County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Milwaukee County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Shorewood is about 1% of Milwaukee County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Shorewood 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
Commute20.8 min avg
How Shorewood residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Shorewood, most residents drive alone to work (57%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 77 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 86% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Shorewood runs 86% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
44.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,258.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Shorewood 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 Shorewood, 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
Shorewood 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 Shorewood, 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
Shorewood 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
Shorewood 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
35.2"
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 Shorewood
Uninsured
2.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Shorewood's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin
Acute Care Hospitals · 1.5 mi away · Glendale
Ascension Columbia St Marys Hospital Milwaukee
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.1 mi away · Milwaukee
Mental Health Emergency Center, Inc.
Psychiatric · 3.5 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.
Education14.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Shorewood
Shorewood's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 75.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
75.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Shorewood (within 15 miles)
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
1 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
3.3 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
11.3 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
8.9 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: Pullman National Historical Park, 98 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Shorewood
Shorewood has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (98 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Shorewood
Shorewood Public Library
3920 N. Murray Ave., Shorewood
Cities Near Shorewood
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Shorewood?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Shorewood FAQ
Is Shorewood, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Shorewood's median rent is $1,347/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $86,726/year. Median home value is $443,700.
Is Shorewood, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Shorewood's violent crime rate was 45 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 1258 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Shorewood, Wisconsin?⌄
Milwaukee County, which includes Shorewood, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Shorewood, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Shorewood is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,347/month and median household income is $86,726/year. The median home value is $443,700. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Shorewood, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Shorewood 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