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Living in
Sussex.
About
Life in Sussex
Sussex is a community of 11,795 people in Wisconsin. The median household income is $119,041, median rent runs about $1,369 per month, and median home values are around $430,600. Unemployment is low at 2.9%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Sussex at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Foreign-Born
5.6%
Broadband Internet
95.0%
of households
Population Growth
+10.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.6% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Sussex: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sussex, the largest foreign-born group is from India (46.3%), and 4.3% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
25.0%
of residents
65 and Older
12.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.5%
of households
Married Couples
54.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.54
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 26% above WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Sussex
In Sussex, rent runs 26% above the WI average, and home values are 62% above the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,952
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $514,649 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Sussex and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Waukesha County, which includes Sussex, is close to the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Sussex: Waukesha County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Waukesha County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Sussex is about 3% of Waukesha County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Sussex 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
Commute24.6 min avg
How Sussex residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sussex, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 81 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 89% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office, which covers Sussex, runs 89% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
37.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
239.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Waukesha County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 Sussex, 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
Sussex is about 3% of Waukesha County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Waukesha County, which includes Sussex, 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
Sussex is about 3% of Waukesha County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 14°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sussex has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 14°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
31°/14°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.9"
Annual Snowfall
54.3"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
154
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
135
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 11°F | 1.74" |
| Feb | 32°F | 13°F | 1.85" |
| Mar | 43°F | 23°F | 2.13" |
| Apr | 56°F | 34°F | 3.85" |
| May | 68°F | 45°F | 4.13" |
| Jun | 79°F | 54°F | 4.65" |
| Jul | 83°F | 60°F | 4.18" |
| Aug | 81°F | 59°F | 3.69" |
| Sep | 73°F | 51°F | 3.30" |
| Oct | 60°F | 40°F | 2.93" |
| Nov | 45°F | 28°F | 2.25" |
| Dec | 33°F | 18°F | 2.10" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sussex
Uninsured
2.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Sussex's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Community Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Menomonee Falls
Ascension Wisconsin Hosp Menomonee Falls Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.5 mi away · Menomonee Falls
Waukesha County Mental Health Ctr
Psychiatric · 7.7 mi away · Waukesha
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 Sussex
Sussex's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 51.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
51.2%
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 Sussex (within 15 miles)
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
10.9 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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 631 students · in-state tuition $36,490 · 59% graduate · median earnings $54,273 (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, 89 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sussex
Sussex has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (89 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
89 mi awayPublic Libraries in Sussex
Pauline Haass Public Library
N64w23820 Main St., Sussex
Cities Near Sussex
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sussex?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sussex FAQ
Is Sussex, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Sussex's median rent is $1,369/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $119,041/year. Median home value is $430,600.
Is Sussex, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Sussex is policed by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 37 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 239 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sussex, Wisconsin?⌄
Waukesha County, which includes Sussex, 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 Sussex, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Sussex is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,369/month and median household income is $119,041/year. The median home value is $430,600. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sussex, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Sussex is 25 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