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Living in
Whitefish Bay.
About
Life in Whitefish Bay
This is a prosperous Milwaukee suburb where you're buying into stability and excellent schools rather than trendy neighborhoods or waterfront charm—and locals know exactly what they're getting. The median household income sits at $157,109, and the median home value around $533,800 reflects a tight, desirable market where homes rarely sit vacant; you're looking at serious competition if you find something that fits your budget. The Whitefish Bay School District ranks #1 in Wisconsin and #164 nationally, which drives much of the community's character—about 44% of households have kids under 18, and you'll notice families are the backbone of local life here.
Whitefish Bay at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Foreign-Born
7.7%
Broadband Internet
97.3%
of households
Population Growth
-3.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.7% foreign-born, most often from Romania
Who lives in Whitefish Bay: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Whitefish Bay, the largest foreign-born group is from Romania (10.1%), and 2.9% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
31.0%
of residents
65 and Older
14.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
40.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.5%
of households
Married Couples
70.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.74
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 23% above WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Whitefish Bay
In Whitefish Bay, rent runs 23% above the WI average, and home values are 100% above the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,156
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
83.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1944
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $654,264 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above WI average
Unemployment in Whitefish Bay and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Milwaukee County, which includes Whitefish Bay, is 0.8 percentage points higher than the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Whitefish Bay: Milwaukee County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Milwaukee County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Whitefish Bay is about 2% of Milwaukee County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Whitefish Bay 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 Whitefish Bay residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Whitefish Bay, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 79 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 96% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Whitefish Bay runs 96% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
13.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
728
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Whitefish Bay 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 Whitefish Bay, 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
Whitefish Bay is about 2% 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 Whitefish Bay, 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
Whitefish Bay is about 2% 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
Whitefish Bay 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 Whitefish Bay
Uninsured
1.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Whitefish Bay's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin
Acute Care Hospitals · 1.3 mi away · Glendale
Ascension Columbia St Marys Hospital Milwaukee
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.8 mi away · Milwaukee
Mental Health Emergency Center, Inc.
Psychiatric · 4.6 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.
Education15.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Whitefish Bay
Whitefish Bay's student/teacher ratio is 15.8:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 81.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
81.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Whitefish Bay (within 15 miles)
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
2.7 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
4.7 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
9.7 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
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, 99 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Whitefish Bay
Whitefish Bay has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (99 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Whitefish Bay
Whitefish Bay Public Library
5420 N. Marlborough Dr., Whitefish Bay
Cities Near Whitefish Bay
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Whitefish Bay?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Whitefish Bay FAQ
Is Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Whitefish Bay's median rent is $1,335/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $157,109/year. Median home value is $533,800.
Is Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Whitefish Bay's violent crime rate was 14 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 728 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin?⌄
Milwaukee County, which includes Whitefish Bay, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Whitefish Bay is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,335/month and median household income is $157,109/year. The median home value is $533,800. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Whitefish Bay 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