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City Report · WI

Baraboo

Pop. 12,769·42nd most expensive in Wisconsin·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,258/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+1.4%
vs US Median
-$704
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Baraboo · $1,258
More affordable than 90% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
22% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,258/mo, rent takes about 22% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$50,000/yr
Local median income
$69,750/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Baraboo's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$820
1 BR
$950
2 BR
$1,120
3 BR
$1,440
4 BR+
$1,500
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,120/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,258 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$15,096/yr
At $1,258/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +1.4% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Baraboo, WI is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 25.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
12,769
Median income
$69,750
Median age
40.4
Renters
37.2%
Age distribution
18.2%
23.2%
26.4%
20.4%
Under 1818.2%
18–3423.2%
35–5426.4%
55–6411.7%
65+20.4%
Gender
47.7%
52.3%
Male47.7%
Female52.3%
Race & ethnicity
88.3%
White88.3%
Black0.7%
Hispanic3.5%
Asian0.6%
Other6.9%
Education (25+)
27.6%
38.9%
25.9%
No HS diploma7.5%
HS diploma27.6%
Some college38.9%
Bachelor's+25.9%
Housing tenure
62.8%
37.2%
Owner62.8%
Renter37.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Baraboo, WI has changed in 5 years

Income
$60,427 → $69,750
up 15.4%
Population
12,446 → 12,769
up 2.6%
Renter share
38.1% → 37.2%
-0.9 pts
Bachelor's+
26.3% → 25.9%
-0.4 pts
Median age
39.1 → 40.4
+1.3 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $69,750 today, compared with $60,427 five years earlier. Census counts show Baraboo, WI adding about 323 residents over the five-year window, up 2.6% on net.

Community

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View Baraboo rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Baraboo on your salary?

At $1,258/mo, how Baraboo rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Baraboo rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Baraboo. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Baraboo

About renting in Baraboo, WI

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Baraboo is $1,258/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $820/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,120/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $950/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,440/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($69,750/yr), Baraboo ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Baraboo an affordable city for renters?

Baraboo is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,258/mo, rent takes approximately 22% of the local median household income ($69,750/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Baraboo falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Baraboo?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $50,000/year (~$24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,258/mo in Baraboo. The local median household income is $69,750/yr, meaning the typical Baraboo household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Baraboo?

Rent in Baraboo has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of August 2026.

How does Baraboo rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?

Baraboo is one of the more affordable cities in Wisconsin for rent, ranking #42 out of 62 tracked cities at $1,258/mo.

What percentage of Baraboo residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 37.2% of Baraboo households are renters, while 62.8% are owner-occupied. Baraboo leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Baraboo rent compare to the national average?

Baraboo's median rent of $1,258/mo is $704 (36%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Wisconsin, it ranks #42 out of 62 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
22%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,258/mo, rent takes ~22% of Baraboo's median household income ($69,750/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Baraboo 22%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.5–7.65%
Run the Baraboo affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Baraboo, WI

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