1st Advantage MortgageIn Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $64,435 a year and the typical rent is $1,101. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Milwaukee County by the numbers
- The Milwaukee County job picture
- What Milwaukee County households earn
- What it costs to live in Milwaukee County
- Regional comparison for Milwaukee County
- The communities that make up Milwaukee County
- Room for a loan payment in Milwaukee County
- People and households in Milwaukee County
- Local borrowing considerations for Milwaukee County
- Wisconsin rules that apply in Milwaukee County
- Steps before you apply in Milwaukee County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Milwaukee County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Milwaukee County's population at 926,331, the largest in Wisconsin. Land area is 241 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 3,836 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 19 places in the county (19 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Milwaukee, with about 566,973 residents, or 61% of the county.
The Milwaukee County job picture
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward education and health care (26% against 23%). The survey's unemployment rate for Milwaukee County averages 4.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Milwaukee County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.3% | +3.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.4% | -2.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.4% | +2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | +1.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.4% | +0.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Milwaukee County households earn
At $64,435, the typical Milwaukee County household income is 2% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Milwaukee County | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.3% | +7.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | +0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.0% | -5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -1.7 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 17.2%, 7 points higher than the state's 10.6%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Milwaukee County median.
What it costs to live in Milwaukee County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,101 in Milwaukee County versus $1,087 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $230,700, about 3.6 times the median household income. 50% of Milwaukee County households own their home and 50% rent. Median construction year: 1957.
| Home costs | Milwaukee County | Wisconsin | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,101/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $230,700 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 50% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 11% | n/a |
For the many renters in Milwaukee County, deposits, moving costs and card balances are typical reasons to borrow. Keep the amount small and the term short.
Regional comparison for Milwaukee County
Racine County is closest, 10 miles from center to center; the sixth, Ozaukee County, is 41 miles off. Income ranges from $78,096 in Racine County to $106,076 in Waukesha County; all six of these neighbors top Milwaukee County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee County | - | $64,435 | $1,101/mo | 50% |
| Racine County, WI | 10 mi | $78,096 | $1,080/mo | 71% |
| Kenosha County, WI | 22 mi | $81,239 | $1,219/mo | 67% |
| Waukesha County, WI | 24 mi | $106,076 | $1,356/mo | 76% |
| Washington County, WI | 38 mi | $96,359 | $1,153/mo | 78% |
| Walworth County, WI | 38 mi | $80,520 | $1,150/mo | 71% |
| Ozaukee County, WI | 41 mi | $96,996 | $1,154/mo | 73% |
The communities that make up Milwaukee County
The table lists the 14 largest of 19 Census places in Milwaukee County, by population. Together all 19 hold about 926,446 people, so roughly 0% of residents live outside any named place. River Hills has the highest median household income on the list ($204,427) and West Milwaukee the lowest ($49,128), counting places with at least 500 residents. One of them, Milwaukee, has a separate city guide (linked); for the rest, this is the local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | city | 566,973 | $54,234 | $1,059 | 12 mi |
| West Allis | city | 59,612 | $67,611 | $1,007 | 11 mi |
| Wauwatosa | city | 48,529 | $101,138 | $1,438 | 14 mi |
| Greenfield | city | 37,345 | $70,459 | $1,170 | 8 mi |
| Oak Creek | city | 37,325 | $96,555 | $1,452 | 3 mi |
| Franklin | city | 35,886 | $106,894 | $1,458 | 8 mi |
| South Milwaukee | city | 20,442 | $73,427 | $1,014 | 0 mi |
| Cudahy | city | 17,853 | $66,719 | $1,028 | 2 mi |
| Whitefish Bay | village | 14,665 | $157,109 | $1,335 | 14 mi |
| Greendale | village | 14,594 | $94,769 | $1,252 | 7 mi |
| Glendale | city | 13,656 | $78,092 | $1,432 | 15 mi |
| Shorewood | village | 13,627 | $86,726 | $1,347 | 12 mi |
| Brown Deer | village | 12,564 | $93,974 | $1,183 | 19 mi |
| St. Francis | city | 9,004 | $57,368 | $1,004 | 4 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Milwaukee County
How much room does a median Milwaukee County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $64,435 a year is $5,370 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,101, which is 21% of it
- $778: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,315 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Milwaukee County's.
People and households in Milwaukee County
35% of Milwaukee County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Milwaukee County | Wisconsin statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.7% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.5% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 12.5% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.5% |
| 60+ min | 3.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Milwaukee County
A few patterns in the Milwaukee County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Milwaukee County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Wisconsin rules that apply in Milwaukee County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Milwaukee County borrowers answers to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Wisconsin guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Milwaukee County
Steps that save money for Milwaukee County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Milwaukee County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Milwaukee County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
Guides that cover parts of Milwaukee County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Milwaukee County earn?
The median is $64,435; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 27% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Milwaukee County?
$1,101 a month at the median, about 21% of median household income.
Does this page cover Milwaukee?
Yes, along with the other 18 Census places in Milwaukee County, such as West Allis, Wauwatosa, Greenfield.
Is the fit check different in Milwaukee County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Milwaukee County?
Start with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.