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Living in
West Bend.
About
Life in West Bend
West Bend functions as a comfortable suburb on Milwaukee's north side—close enough for commuters (average 25 minutes) but far enough to feel like its own place. The economy has shifted away from its manufacturing heyday, so most jobs are either in the city's remaining services sector or require heading south toward Milwaukee. Housing is reasonably affordable compared to urban alternatives, with median home values about $260,000 and rent around $1,076 per month, making it accessible for families and first-time buyers.
West Bend at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Foreign-Born
2.1%
Broadband Internet
92.1%
of households
Population Growth
+1.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in West Bend: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Bend, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (25.3%), and 1.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.6%
of residents
65 and Older
19.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.1%
of households
Married Couples
42.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
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 West Bend
Rent and home values here are close to the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,481
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $355,619 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below WI average
Unemployment in West Bend and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in West Bend is 0.4 percentage points lower than the WI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What West Bend 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
Commute25.9 min avg
How West Bend residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Bend, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 36 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 101 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 48% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in West Bend runs 48% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
170.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
973.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
West Bend Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
68.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Washington County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Washington County, which includes West Bend, the most common type is winter weather, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Winter Weather | $6.8M |
| 2024 | 19 | Winter Weather | $47,000 |
| 2023 | 13 | Winter Weather | $29,000 |
| 2022 | 26 | Winter Weather | $928,500 |
| 2021 | 16 | Winter Weather | $23,000 |
| 2020 | 18 | Winter Weather | $13,000 |
| 2019 | 25 | Winter Weather | $16,000 |
| 2018 | 24 | Winter Weather | $611,000 |
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
Washington County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Ozaukee County, WI (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 18 miles from West Bend) is typically good — 277 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
277
per year
Moderate Days
73
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Ozaukee County, WI (18 mi away)
Climate79°F summers, 14°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
West Bend has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 14°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
30°/14°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.8"
Annual Snowfall
54.3"
Hot Days/Year
7
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
154
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°F | 11°F | 1.85" |
| Feb | 31°F | 14°F | 1.67" |
| Mar | 42°F | 23°F | 1.98" |
| Apr | 55°F | 34°F | 3.86" |
| May | 67°F | 45°F | 3.90" |
| Jun | 77°F | 55°F | 4.40" |
| Jul | 82°F | 60°F | 3.96" |
| Aug | 79°F | 59°F | 4.05" |
| Sep | 72°F | 51°F | 3.21" |
| Oct | 59°F | 40°F | 2.93" |
| Nov | 44°F | 29°F | 2.06" |
| Dec | 33°F | 18°F | 1.97" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Bend
West Bend has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
St Josephs Community Hospital West Bend
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Aurora Medical Ctr Washington County
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.4 mi away · Hartford
Aurora Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.3 mi away · Grafton
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.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Bend
West Bend's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 28.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 79 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West Bend
West Bend has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (79 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
79 mi awayPublic Libraries in West Bend
West Bend Community Memorial Library
630 Poplar St., West Bend
Cities Near West Bend
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Bend?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Bend FAQ
Is West Bend, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
West Bend's median rent is $1,076/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $74,076/year. Median home value is $263,100.
Is West Bend, Wisconsin safe?⌄
West Bend's violent crime rate was 171 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 974 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Bend, Wisconsin?⌄
West Bend has an unemployment rate of 2.8%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in West Bend, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in West Bend is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,076/month and median household income is $74,076/year. The median home value is $263,100. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Bend, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in West Bend is 26 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