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Living in
Waukesha.
About
Life in Waukesha
Moving to Waukesha puts you in a solid Midwestern suburb with real substance—it's not just a bedroom community. The median home value around $315,500 and median rent near $1,200 are reasonable for the Milwaukee area, though you're looking at a 21-minute commute if you work in the city. The unemployment rate is a healthy 2.9%, and you'll find decent job diversity anchored by healthcare, education, and service sectors.
Waukesha at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.8%
Foreign-Born
7.2%
Broadband Internet
94.3%
of households
Population Growth
-0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Waukesha: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Waukesha, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (30.8%), and 7.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.2%
of residents
65 and Older
15.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.8%
of households
Married Couples
43.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.27
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 12% above WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Waukesha
In Waukesha, rent runs 12% above the WI average, and home values are 18% above the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,511
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $419,895 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Waukesha and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Waukesha 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 Waukesha 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
Commute21.3 min avg
How Waukesha residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Waukesha, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 73 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 65% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Waukesha runs 65% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
114.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
917
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Waukesha Police Department
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 Waukesha, 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
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Waukesha County, which includes Waukesha, 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
Climate80°F summers, 15°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Waukesha has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 15°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
31°/15°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.0"
Annual Snowfall
36.9"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
143
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
115
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 12°F | 1.60" |
| Feb | 32°F | 15°F | 1.71" |
| Mar | 43°F | 24°F | 1.93" |
| Apr | 55°F | 35°F | 3.65" |
| May | 67°F | 46°F | 3.97" |
| Jun | 77°F | 56°F | 4.88" |
| Jul | 81°F | 60°F | 3.99" |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 4.18" |
| Sep | 73°F | 51°F | 3.27" |
| Oct | 60°F | 40°F | 2.92" |
| Nov | 45°F | 28°F | 2.15" |
| Dec | 33°F | 18°F | 1.70" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Waukesha
Waukesha has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
5.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Waukesha Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Waukesha County Mental Health Ctr
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Froedtert Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.7 mi away · New Berlin
Rogers Memorial Hospital
Psychiatric · 10.8 mi away · Oconomowoc
Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11 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.
Education14.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Waukesha
Waukesha's student/teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 41.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
27
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
41.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Waukesha
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,523 students · in-state tuition $40,680 · 67% graduate · median earnings $64,501 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa
10.2 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 $35,112 · 59% graduate · median earnings $59,707 (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, 95 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Waukesha
Waukesha has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (95 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
95 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in Waukesha
Waukesha Public Library
321 Wisconsin Ave., Waukesha
Cities Near Waukesha
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Waukesha?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Waukesha FAQ
Is Waukesha, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Waukesha's median rent is $1,219/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $83,837/year. Median home value is $315,500.
Is Waukesha, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Waukesha's violent crime rate was 115 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 917 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Waukesha, Wisconsin?⌄
Waukesha 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 Waukesha, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Waukesha is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,219/month and median household income is $83,837/year. The median home value is $315,500. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Waukesha, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Waukesha is 21 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