Rent & Housing in Wisconsin
Based on comprehensive economic data across 156 tracked municipalities, Wisconsin presents diverse cost of living environments. Macroeconomic modeling identifies Antigo as the most cost-efficient market, contrasting starkly with the elevated real estate valuations found in Elm Grove. Wisconsin assesses a 7.65% progressive income tax, while residential property taxes average 1.76%. Financial planning in WI requires careful alignment of localized housing costs against state-level tax obligations.
Use this state hub to understand the statewide housing baseline first, then drop into city pages for a household-level feasibility verdict. The key question here is not just whether Wisconsin is “cheap” or “expensive”, but which cities look most livable once rent, home values, taxes, and household income are considered together.
Wisconsin looks comparatively accessible at the state level, with 16% average rent burden and 3.6x home-price-to-income. Start with Antigo, WI if your goal is to find the easiest relocation entry points before checking city-level verdicts.
Wisconsin Tax Radar
At a gross income of $74,580, the localized Wisconsin marginal tax brackets exact an effective state penalty of 4.2%. This results in an absolute "tax drag" drain of $3,131/year compared to states with no income tax.
Lower Housing Pressure Cities
These city pages have comparatively lower rent burden inside Wisconsin, making them strong candidates for the next housing-feasibility clicks.
Biggest Move-Market Cities
These are the highest-population city pages in the state, useful when you want the major relocation targets before exploring the full table.
Rent Pressure Outliers
These city pages show the highest rent burden inside Wisconsin. They are useful when you want to see where renting starts to materially squeeze household budgets.
Buy Pressure Outliers
These city pages have the toughest home-price-to-income ratios in Wisconsin, making them the first places to inspect when buy-side affordability is the core concern.
Most Affordable
All Cities in Wisconsin
| City | Pop. | Home Value | Rent | Income | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 569,756 | $216,278 | $1,398 | $51,888 | 88 |
| Madison | 275,568 | $415,530 | $1,649 | $76,983 | 114 |
| Green Bay | 106,585 | $191,500 | $904 | $62,546 | 80 |
| Kenosha | 99,147 | $268,075 | $1,137 | $68,532 | 93 |
| Racine | 77,155 | $158,100 | $983 | $55,705 | 77 |
| Appleton | 74,873 | $211,500 | $957 | $77,450 | 83 |
| Waukesha | 70,779 | $402,755 | $1,183 | $81,651 | 108 |
| Eau Claire | 69,274 | $228,000 | $971 | $65,369 | 85 |
| Oshkosh | 66,247 | $168,400 | $908 | $61,929 | 77 |
| Janesville | 65,813 | $209,700 | $1,037 | $71,664 | 83 |
| West Allis | 59,588 | $263,439 | $1,012 | $69,685 | 90 |
| La Crosse | 51,791 | $196,600 | $977 | $53,803 | 81 |
| Sheboygan | 49,812 | $165,200 | $874 | $62,953 | 76 |
| Wauwatosa | 47,718 | $403,384 | $1,373 | $93,859 | 110 |
| Fond du Lac | 44,491 | $161,300 | $905 | $61,620 | 76 |
| Brookfield | 41,592 | $504,963 | $1,794 | $124,026 | 126 |
| New Berlin | 40,384 | $432,885 | $1,409 | $97,414 | 114 |
| Wausau | 39,893 | $155,900 | $950 | $61,877 | 76 |
| Menomonee Falls | 38,963 | $419,239 | $1,257 | $98,460 | 110 |
| Greenfield | 37,361 | $316,314 | $1,123 | $69,016 | 97 |
| Beloit | 36,554 | $133,500 | $989 | $59,975 | 74 |
| Oak Creek | 36,473 | $305,100 | $1,397 | $93,120 | 99 |
| Sun Prairie | 36,455 | $428,907 | $1,374 | $90,521 | 112 |
| Franklin | 35,751 | $426,099 | $1,325 | $108,342 | 112 |
| Manitowoc | 34,553 | $143,900 | $787 | $62,133 | 73 |
| West Bend | 31,722 | $244,500 | $1,033 | $75,043 | 88 |
| Fitchburg | 31,566 | $493,445 | $1,302 | $85,420 | 119 |
| Mount Pleasant | 27,694 | $269,900 | $1,045 | $90,189 | 90 |
| Neenah | 27,409 | $194,700 | $970 | $73,880 | 81 |
| Superior | 26,550 | $168,500 | $881 | $63,415 | 75 |
| Stevens Point | 25,497 | $189,700 | $874 | $56,218 | 79 |
| De Pere | 25,368 | $253,900 | $981 | $80,550 | 88 |
| Caledonia | 25,292 | $279,400 | $1,080 | $91,053 | 92 |
| Mequon | 25,259 | $485,300 | $2,271 | $147,391 | 129 |
| Muskego | 25,156 | $501,964 | $1,292 | $116,361 | 120 |
| Watertown | 22,873 | $211,500 | $1,061 | $68,333 | 84 |
| Middleton | 22,235 | $597,726 | $1,357 | $85,526 | 132 |
| Pleasant Prairie | 21,515 | $444,627 | $1,446 | $103,903 | 117 |
| Germantown | 20,940 | $356,700 | $1,310 | $104,337 | 104 |
| South Milwaukee | 20,547 | $297,849 | $1,014 | $70,146 | 93 |
| Howard | 20,261 | $286,200 | $1,053 | $84,896 | 92 |
| Fox Crossing | 18,960 | $228,000 | $961 | $74,423 | 85 |
| Onalaska | 18,909 | $279,100 | $1,096 | $84,898 | 92 |
| Wisconsin Rapids | 18,756 | $116,600 | $872 | $54,116 | 71 |
| Marshfield | 18,718 | $169,900 | $798 | $59,294 | 76 |
| Oconomowoc | 18,385 | $367,700 | $1,235 | $105,833 | 104 |
| Menasha | 18,130 | $169,200 | $866 | $64,392 | 77 |
| Cudahy | 17,964 | $277,503 | $977 | $66,717 | 90 |
| Kaukauna | 17,237 | $198,800 | $988 | $78,353 | 82 |
| Ashwaubenon | 16,931 | $245,100 | $945 | $71,180 | 86 |
| Beaver Dam | 16,629 | $189,800 | $942 | $68,757 | 80 |
| Menomonie | 16,548 | $203,800 | $933 | $54,587 | 81 |
| River Falls | 16,349 | $299,800 | $1,050 | $78,078 | 97 |
| Bellevue | 16,255 | $267,700 | $1,083 | $80,750 | 90 |
| Pewaukee | 16,002 | $538,956 | $1,485 | $112,093 | 127 |
| Weston | 15,784 | $215,900 | $975 | $75,565 | 83 |
| Hartford | 15,761 | $261,300 | $1,095 | $74,252 | 90 |
| Whitewater | 15,705 | $211,800 | $985 | $49,000 | 83 |
| Hudson | 15,004 | $355,000 | $1,377 | $97,036 | 107 |
| Waunakee | 14,927 | $569,652 | $1,236 | $128,750 | 127 |
| Whitefish Bay | 14,750 | $624,718 | $1,348 | $154,255 | 135 |
| Greendale | 14,656 | $375,430 | $1,177 | $95,015 | 104 |
| Chippewa Falls | 14,643 | $194,800 | $910 | $62,133 | 80 |
| Salem Lakes | 14,521 | $281,500 | $1,132 | $94,554 | 93 |
| Verona | 14,499 | $578,822 | $1,462 | $119,148 | 131 |
| Allouez | 14,023 | $217,100 | $984 | $90,035 | 84 |
| Plover | 13,713 | $244,500 | $1,041 | $83,139 | 88 |
| Shorewood | 13,682 | $533,227 | $1,291 | $89,135 | 124 |
| Harrison | 13,345 | $314,200 | $1,397 | $118,047 | 100 |
| Glendale | 13,134 | $260,300 | $1,354 | $77,096 | 93 |
| Stoughton | 13,063 | $419,391 | $1,155 | $78,517 | 109 |
| Suamico | 13,003 | $341,100 | $1,148 | $113,614 | 100 |
| Greenville | 12,911 | $337,100 | $1,219 | $110,103 | 100 |
| Brown Deer | 12,615 | $282,508 | $1,132 | $91,567 | 93 |
| Port Washington | 12,569 | $276,000 | $1,021 | $81,582 | 91 |
| Baraboo | 12,506 | $201,800 | $926 | $73,515 | 81 |
| Fort Atkinson | 12,490 | $198,600 | $957 | $75,350 | 86 |
| Cedarburg | 12,317 | $386,400 | $1,057 | $82,110 | 104 |
| Grafton | 12,274 | $301,300 | $1,162 | $88,634 | 95 |
| Little Chute | 11,930 | $223,400 | $1,141 | $79,260 | 86 |
| Richfield | 11,806 | $456,500 | $1,460 | $135,774 | 117 |
| Sussex | 11,795 | $491,671 | $1,231 | $112,031 | 118 |
| Platteville | 11,421 | $186,900 | $885 | $42,667 | 79 |
| Oregon | 11,384 | $361,200 | $1,229 | $100,695 | 103 |
| Waupun | 11,244 | $167,700 | $830 | $66,931 | 76 |
| Two Rivers | 11,224 | $214,577 | $756 | $58,716 | 81 |
| Marinette | 11,060 | $111,600 | $763 | $57,461 | 69 |
| Holmen | 11,027 | $262,600 | $1,164 | $77,083 | 91 |
| Burlington | 11,021 | $268,300 | $967 | $81,658 | 89 |
| DeForest | 10,853 | $434,555 | $1,381 | $106,223 | 113 |
| Monroe | 10,568 | $184,400 | $844 | $67,621 | 78 |
| Hobart | 10,418 | $363,500 | $1,226 | $111,918 | 103 |
| Portage | 10,374 | $187,300 | $963 | $62,785 | 80 |
| New Richmond | 10,334 | $269,000 | $1,070 | $87,500 | 94 |
| Elkhorn | 10,259 | $255,300 | $999 | $73,052 | 88 |
| Reedsburg | 10,060 | $218,300 | $944 | $71,991 | 83 |
| Sparta | 9,921 | $168,800 | $902 | $60,517 | 77 |
| Hartland | 9,716 | $625,485 | $1,104 | $87,297 | 132 |
| Sturgeon Bay | 9,702 | $217,600 | $1,011 | $56,882 | 84 |
| Tomah | 9,505 | $162,900 | $927 | $51,185 | 77 |
| St. Francis | 9,318 | $281,002 | $893 | $58,490 | 90 |
| Shawano | 9,236 | $127,200 | $773 | $56,457 | 71 |
| McFarland | 9,230 | $479,167 | $1,447 | $93,810 | 119 |
| Merrill | 9,224 | $113,200 | $784 | $49,947 | 69 |
| Rice Lake | 9,030 | $178,100 | $834 | $55,040 | 78 |
| Windsor | 8,992 | $499,687 | $1,322 | $115,111 | 120 |
| Plymouth | 8,913 | $194,900 | $865 | $67,784 | 80 |
| Altoona | 8,750 | $220,900 | $1,157 | $80,126 | 86 |
| Monona | 8,604 | $457,139 | $1,207 | $87,784 | 114 |
| Delavan | 8,531 | $194,500 | $1,053 | $71,121 | 82 |
| Waukesha | 8,479 | $402,755 | $1,167 | $126,286 | 107 |
| Lake Geneva | 8,443 | $323,000 | $1,250 | $73,199 | 99 |
| Kronenwetter | 8,420 | $240,700 | $1,042 | $107,268 | 87 |
| Mukwonago | 8,411 | $471,455 | $1,097 | $96,096 | 114 |
| Rhinelander | 8,248 | $123,300 | $818 | $53,561 | 71 |
| Somers | 8,245 | $368,934 | $1,400 | $78,068 | 108 |
| Pewaukee | 8,240 | $538,956 | $1,281 | $62,380 | 124 |
| Sheboygan Falls | 8,190 | $205,400 | $861 | $68,264 | 81 |
| Antigo | 8,058 | $94,700 | $706 | $46,791 | 66 |
| Cottage Grove | 7,906 | $464,715 | $1,500 | $132,717 | 118 |
| Ashland | 7,884 | $162,200 | $697 | $49,258 | 74 |
| Jackson | 7,882 | $295,600 | $1,123 | $95,960 | 94 |
| Ripon | 7,803 | $161,500 | $708 | $59,063 | 74 |
| Jefferson | 7,722 | $222,100 | $1,041 | $77,095 | 90 |
| Mount Horeb | 7,719 | $359,500 | $1,260 | $100,956 | 103 |
| Hales Corners | 7,627 | $291,100 | $1,274 | $88,068 | 96 |
| New London | 7,492 | $162,800 | $822 | $61,447 | 76 |
| Vernon | 7,470 | $511,550 | $1,159 | $121,401 | 120 |
| Kimberly | 7,432 | $196,900 | $1,056 | $68,295 | 82 |
| Lake Hallie | 7,245 | $261,500 | $1,155 | $79,628 | 91 |
| Delafield | 7,192 | $504,500 | $1,344 | $101,482 | 121 |
| Sturtevant | 6,787 | $231,000 | $896 | $84,479 | 84 |
| Fox Point | 6,746 | $414,900 | $1,693 | $140,818 | 115 |
| Elm Grove | 6,428 | $650,612 | $1,788 | $133,304 | 143 |
| Lake Mills | 6,391 | $282,400 | $1,095 | $87,039 | 97 |
| Twin Lakes | 6,351 | $385,420 | $1,034 | $85,800 | 106 |
| Waupaca | 6,314 | $177,600 | $748 | $52,586 | 77 |
| Slinger | 6,173 | $337,700 | $1,083 | $99,457 | 99 |
| Rib Mountain | 6,134 | $237,700 | $1,173 | $87,054 | 88 |
| Edgerton | 5,924 | $243,900 | $1,081 | $84,185 | 88 |
| Evansville | 5,771 | $256,900 | $941 | $78,841 | 88 |
| Milton | 5,685 | $210,500 | $940 | $84,648 | 82 |
| Waterford | 5,627 | $312,700 | $1,278 | $80,380 | 98 |
| Rothschild | 5,532 | $188,000 | $934 | $87,250 | 80 |
| Berlin | 5,523 | $143,800 | $814 | $55,216 | 73 |
| Columbus | 5,493 | $225,700 | $814 | $74,957 | 83 |
| Prairie du Chien | 5,471 | $152,100 | $840 | $52,670 | 74 |
| North Fond du Lac | 5,373 | $144,900 | $1,083 | $61,744 | 76 |
| West Salem | 5,268 | $269,300 | $1,142 | $90,991 | 92 |
| Bristol | 5,196 | $436,442 | $1,213 | $109,917 | 114 |
| Tichigan | 5,173 | $386,600 | $1,536 | $124,821 | 109 |
| Mayville | 5,169 | $184,800 | $853 | $66,453 | 78 |
| Lake Wisconsin | 5,051 | $421,500 | $1,399 | $116,053 | 112 |
| Richland Center | 5,030 | $137,700 | $681 | $51,472 | 71 |
| Wind Lake | 5,028 | $357,500 | $1,158 | $100,306 | 102 |
| Dodgeville | 5,013 | $234,000 | $984 | $72,768 | 86 |
FAQ: Living in Wisconsin
What is the most affordable city to live in Wisconsin?+
Among the cities we track, Antigo stands out as the most affordable option in Wisconsin. The median home value there is $94,700, and monthly rent typically runs around $706. The local median household income is $46,791, which tends to go further here than in much of the state.
What is the most expensive city in Wisconsin?+
Elm Grove is currently the priciest market in WI. Homes there are valued at a median of $650,612, and renters can expect to pay around $1,788/month. Incomes are higher too — the median household earns $133,304 — but whether that fully offsets the cost premium depends on your lifestyle.
How are taxes in Wisconsin?+
Wisconsin has a progressive income tax with a top rate of 7.65%. Property taxes average 1.76% statewide — on the higher end nationally. Combined state and local sales tax can reach 5.44%.
How much does housing vary across Wisconsin?+
There's a huge range. In Antigo, the median home costs around $94,700. In Elm Grove, that number jumps to $650,612 — roughly 6x more. Rents follow a similar pattern: approximately $706/month vs. $1,788/month. Where you choose to settle within WI can make a dramatic difference in your monthly budget.
Is Wisconsin a good state to move to?+
It depends on your priorities and budget. Wisconsin offers a wide range of living costs depending on the city. You can find very affordable communities alongside expensive metro areas. Home prices range from around $94,700 in budget-friendly areas to $650,612 in premium markets. Use the city comparison tool to compare housing, rent, property tax, and everyday cost pressure across locations in WI.
Explore Other States
- Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
- Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
- Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
- Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
- Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)