1st Advantage MortgageIn Waukesha County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $106,076 a year and the typical rent is $1,356. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Wisconsin before sharing details.
On this page
- Waukesha County by the numbers
- Work, industries and travel time in Waukesha County
- Income in Waukesha County compared with Wisconsin
- What it costs to live in Waukesha County
- Regional comparison for Waukesha County
- Waukesha County towns compared
- A Waukesha County household budget, worked through
- Waukesha County households compared
- Before borrowing in Waukesha County
- Checklist for Waukesha County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Waukesha County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Waukesha County by the numbers
Roughly 411,762 residents live in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, 3rd by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. It covers 550 square miles of land, or about 749 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 28 places in the county (26 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Waukesha, with about 71,233 residents, or 17% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Waukesha County
The biggest employer of Waukesha County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Finance, insurance and real estate stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Waukesha County averages 2.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.2%). 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 17% work from home. 3.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Waukesha County workers | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.4% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.4% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.7% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -0.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Waukesha County compared with Wisconsin
At $106,076, the typical Waukesha County household income is 62% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 1st among Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Waukesha County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.0% | -7.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.9% | -8.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.5% | +6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.6% | +9.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 53% of Waukesha County households make $100,000 or more, and 13% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 5.2%, 5 points lower than the state's 10.6%. A household earning below the $106,076 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Waukesha County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,356 in Waukesha County versus $1,087 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 45% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $398,200, about 3.8 times the median household income. 76% of Waukesha County households own their home and 24% rent. Median construction year: 1981.
| Measure | Waukesha County | Wisconsin | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,356/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $398,200 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.6% | 3.1% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Regional comparison for Waukesha County
Six nearby counties, 24 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $64,435 in Milwaukee County to $96,359 in Washington County; none of these neighbors top Waukesha County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukesha County | - | $106,076 | $1,356/mo | 76% |
| Milwaukee County, WI | 24 mi | $64,435 | $1,101/mo | 50% |
| Jefferson County, WI | 24 mi | $83,750 | $1,035/mo | 73% |
| Washington County, WI | 26 mi | $96,359 | $1,153/mo | 78% |
| Walworth County, WI | 27 mi | $80,520 | $1,150/mo | 71% |
| Racine County, WI | 32 mi | $78,096 | $1,080/mo | 71% |
| Dodge County, WI | 35 mi | $75,929 | $988/mo | 71% |
Waukesha County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 28 Census places in Waukesha County, by population. Together all 28 hold about 336,543 people, so roughly 18% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in Oconomowoc Lake, $60,000 in Butler. Rent is cheapest in Lannon ($773) and steepest in Chenequa ($3,501). One of them, Waukesha, has a separate city guide (linked); for the rest, this is the local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukesha | city | 71,233 | $83,837 | $1,219 | 3 mi |
| Brookfield | city | 41,273 | $129,548 | $1,886 | 10 mi |
| New Berlin | city | 40,270 | $101,091 | $1,426 | 9 mi |
| Menomonee Falls | village | 39,539 | $100,238 | $1,313 | 13 mi |
| Muskego | city | 25,406 | $112,221 | $1,313 | 13 mi |
| Oconomowoc | city | 19,080 | $106,425 | $1,301 | 11 mi |
| Pewaukee | city | 16,211 | $108,350 | $1,622 | 4 mi |
| Sussex | village | 12,066 | $119,041 | $1,369 | 9 mi |
| Hartland | village | 9,972 | $87,754 | $1,230 | 6 mi |
| Mukwonago | village | 8,415 | $98,273 | $1,142 | 11 mi |
| Pewaukee | village | 8,196 | $62,139 | $1,260 | 5 mi |
| Delafield | city | 7,202 | $94,806 | $1,457 | 5 mi |
| Elm Grove | village | 6,459 | $158,016 | $1,900 | 11 mi |
| Summit | village | 5,114 | $140,682 | $1,615 | 9 mi |
A Waukesha County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Waukesha County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $8,840 a month: gross income for a household at the Waukesha County median
- 15% goes to median rent ($1,356)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,445 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Waukesha County households compared
College graduates make up 49% of the adult population. 3.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Waukesha County | All of Wisconsin | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 48.9% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 2.8% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.1% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.8% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Waukesha County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 43.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 3.5% |
Before borrowing in Waukesha County
A few patterns in the Waukesha County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Consolidation math. With 53% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Checklist for Waukesha County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Licensing and complaints for Waukesha County
Consumer lenders serving Waukesha County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Wisconsin that is the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Wisconsin guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
City guides inside Waukesha County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Waukesha County?
$106,076 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,485 for Wisconsin. It ranks 1st of 72 in the state.
How does Waukesha County rent compare with Wisconsin?
$1,356 locally versus $1,087 for the state, 25% above.
Should Waukesha County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Waukesha County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Waukesha County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Waukesha, Brookfield, New Berlin, Menomonee Falls, Muskego and 23 more.
Does living in Waukesha County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Waukesha County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.