Wisconsin Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 72 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$891/mo
Average Home Value
$217,832
Average Owner Cost
$1,057/mo
County cost atlas
Wisconsin housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
72
Avg rent
$891/mo
Owner cost
$1,057/mo
Avg score
40.2
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in Wisconsin: An Overview
The median rent in Wisconsin is $891 per month, which is 23% below the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within Wisconsin, housing costs vary significantly by county. Dane County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,345 per month and a median home value of $366,100. Forest County has the lowest reported median rent at $585 per month and a median home value of $170,000.
The average home value across Wisconsin counties is $217,832, 23% lower than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $71,715, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
Before comparing places in Wisconsin, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in Wisconsin
How median rents are spread across 72 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All Wisconsin Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dane County | Moderate$1,345/mo | $366,100 | $1,742/mo | 7.6 | 28.0% |
| Waukesha County | Moderate$1,300/mo | $373,600 | $1,628/mo | 9.2 | 27.0% |
| St. Croix County | Moderate$1,238/mo | $349,700 | $1,626/mo | 10.2 | 24.0% |
| Kenosha County | Moderate$1,175/mo | $247,800 | $1,341/mo | 14.7 | 28.0% |
| Washington County | Moderate$1,126/mo | $316,200 | $1,455/mo | 14.4 | 26.0% |
| Ozaukee County | Moderate$1,112/mo | $368,900 | $1,572/mo | 13.7 | 23.0% |
| Walworth County | Moderate$1,090/mo | $275,900 | $1,347/mo | 17.0 | 26.0% |
| Milwaukee County | Moderate$1,069/mo | $216,500 | $1,332/mo | 17.9 | 29.0% |
| Pierce County | Moderate$1,025/mo | $308,600 | $1,480/mo | 17.5 | 28.0% |
| La Crosse County | Moderate$1,023/mo | $243,200 | $1,221/mo | 21.7 | 28.0% |
| Rock County | Moderate$1,019/mo | $215,900 | $1,129/mo | 24.0 | 26.0% |
| Racine County | Moderate$1,017/mo | $239,400 | $1,278/mo | 20.6 | 26.0% |
| Jefferson County | Moderate$1,012/mo | $253,800 | $1,342/mo | 19.9 | 25.0% |
| Calumet County | Moderate$1,002/mo | $252,100 | $1,250/mo | 22.1 | 24.0% |
| Outagamie County | Affordable$998/mo | $244,100 | $1,197/mo | 23.6 | 23.0% |
| Door County | Affordable$995/mo | $305,800 | $1,074/mo | 27.5 | 26.0% |
| Eau Claire County | Affordable$977/mo | $242,400 | $1,185/mo | 24.8 | 24.0% |
| Brown County | Affordable$973/mo | $245,900 | $1,231/mo | 24.0 | 25.0% |
| Sauk County | Affordable$970/mo | $242,400 | $1,228/mo | 24.5 | 26.0% |
| Chippewa County | Affordable$963/mo | $237,700 | $1,055/mo | 29.9 | 25.0% |
| Dodge County | Affordable$963/mo | $218,400 | $1,168/mo | 26.3 | 23.0% |
| Polk County | Affordable$958/mo | $241,200 | $1,144/mo | 27.3 | 23.0% |
| Marathon County | Affordable$950/mo | $205,500 | $1,027/mo | 31.8 | 25.0% |
| Dunn County | Affordable$942/mo | $226,200 | $1,164/mo | 27.6 | 25.0% |
| Iowa County | Affordable$941/mo | $248,100 | $1,183/mo | 27.3 | 23.0% |
| Columbia County | Affordable$926/mo | $258,700 | $1,275/mo | 26.3 | 23.0% |
| Fond du Lac County | Affordable$926/mo | $209,800 | $1,083/mo | 31.3 | 24.0% |
| Winnebago County | Affordable$924/mo | $208,600 | $1,121/mo | 30.1 | 25.0% |
| Monroe County | Affordable$920/mo | $197,200 | $965/mo | 36.3 | 25.0% |
| Douglas County | Affordable$903/mo | $190,400 | $1,076/mo | 33.5 | 27.0% |
| Portage County | Affordable$903/mo | $230,400 | $1,026/mo | 35.2 | 26.0% |
| Sheboygan County | Affordable$889/mo | $218,400 | $1,063/mo | 34.9 | 23.0% |
| Trempealeau County | Affordable$887/mo | $203,300 | $1,083/mo | 34.4 | 23.0% |
| Florence County | Affordable$871/mo | $170,000 | $773/mo | 52.4 | 22.0% |
| Oneida County | Affordable$868/mo | $227,500 | $905/mo | 43.6 | 26.0% |
| Pepin County | Affordable$860/mo | $196,100 | $991/mo | 40.4 | 24.0% |
| Barron County | Affordable$859/mo | $198,300 | $938/mo | 43.0 | 27.0% |
| Green County | Affordable$851/mo | $236,900 | $1,238/mo | 33.9 | 22.0% |
| Juneau County | Affordable$847/mo | $165,200 | $948/mo | 44.0 | 24.0% |
| Kewaunee County | Affordable$839/mo | $208,900 | $1,029/mo | 41.1 | 23.0% |
| Lafayette County | Affordable$835/mo | $182,100 | $1,055/mo | 40.8 | 25.0% |
| Waupaca County | Affordable$834/mo | $192,800 | $1,039/mo | 41.5 | 24.0% |
| Wood County | Affordable$831/mo | $168,100 | $838/mo | 52.5 | 25.0% |
| Vernon County | Affordable$826/mo | $210,600 | $956/mo | 45.6 | 21.0% |
| Buffalo County | Affordable$822/mo | $197,600 | $1,058/mo | 42.1 | 24.0% |
| Rusk County | Affordable$816/mo | $152,000 | $827/mo | 54.8 | 26.0% |
| Washburn County | Affordable$815/mo | $207,900 | $895/mo | 49.9 | 28.0% |
| Grant County | Affordable$812/mo | $186,300 | $929/mo | 48.5 | 27.0% |
| Vilas County | Affordable$810/mo | $270,700 | $884/mo | 51.3 | 21.0% |
| Crawford County | Affordable$809/mo | $175,100 | $804/mo | 57.3 | 22.0% |
| Green Lake County | Affordable$806/mo | $206,300 | $973/mo | 47.2 | 25.0% |
| Price County | Affordable$801/mo | $146,000 | $772/mo | 60.4 | 24.0% |
| Marquette County | Affordable$800/mo | $201,100 | $989/mo | 47.4 | 25.0% |
| Oconto County | Affordable$796/mo | $212,000 | $966/mo | 49.0 | 24.0% |
| Adams County | Affordable$789/mo | $184,500 | $845/mo | 57.1 | 24.0% |
| Bayfield County | Affordable$789/mo | $228,100 | $898/mo | 53.3 | 22.0% |
| Jackson County | Affordable$789/mo | $186,900 | $983/mo | 49.1 | 25.0% |
| Waushara County | Affordable$789/mo | $186,000 | $923/mo | 52.0 | 25.0% |
| Clark County | Affordable$786/mo | $163,800 | $881/mo | 54.8 | 22.0% |
| Richland County | Affordable$786/mo | $182,800 | $930/mo | 52.0 | 25.0% |
| Taylor County | Affordable$786/mo | $186,500 | $947/mo | 51.3 | 25.0% |
| Manitowoc County | Affordable$777/mo | $172,900 | $884/mo | 55.7 | 22.0% |
| Shawano County | Affordable$777/mo | $179,100 | $932/mo | 53.0 | 25.0% |
| Lincoln County | Affordable$768/mo | $177,700 | $885/mo | 57.0 | 31.0% |
| Burnett County | Affordable$758/mo | $215,500 | $814/mo | 63.4 | 26.0% |
| Marinette County | Affordable$749/mo | $154,600 | $776/mo | 66.6 | 22.0% |
| Langlade County | Affordable$737/mo | $145,800 | $657/mo | 77.1 | 26.0% |
| Sawyer County | Affordable$683/mo | $223,300 | $876/mo | 66.2 | 25.0% |
| Ashland County | Affordable$665/mo | $160,500 | $872/mo | 67.6 | 25.0% |
| Iron County | Affordable$640/mo | $155,200 | $738/mo | 78.6 | 29.0% |
| Menominee County | Affordable$624/mo | $97,000 | $586/mo | 90.0 | 23.0% |
| Forest County | Affordable$585/mo | $170,000 | $754/mo | 79.3 | 19.0% |
Compare Wisconsin to Other States
See how Wisconsin counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About Wisconsin Housing Costs
What is the most affordable county in Wisconsin?
What is the most expensive county to live in Wisconsin?
How does Wisconsin's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the average home value in Wisconsin?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.