City Report · WI

Grafton

Pop. 12,445·2nd most expensive in Wisconsin·Rental market data updated monthly for Grafton, WI
Median rent (all units)
$2,016/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+2.2%
vs US Median
+$84
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Grafton · $2,016
More expensive than 61% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
27% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,016/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$81,000/yr
Local median income
$89,861/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Grafton's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$930
1 BR
$1,040
2 BR
$1,240
3 BR
$1,540
4 BR+
$1,680
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,240/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,016 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: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($89,861) is $2,247 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,680).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Grafton. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$24,192/yr
At $2,016/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, +2.2% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Grafton, WI is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 47.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
12,445
Median income
$89,861
Median age
41.5
Renters
38.7%
Age distribution
19.4%
22.7%
23.9%
13.4%
20.6%
Under 1819.4%
18–3422.7%
35–5423.9%
55–6413.4%
65+20.6%
Gender
49.8%
50.2%
Male49.8%
Female50.2%
Race & ethnicity
89.5%
White89.5%
Black2.5%
Hispanic3.5%
Asian1.1%
Other3.4%
Education (25+)
20.9%
29.7%
47.2%
No HS diploma2.2%
HS diploma20.9%
Some college29.7%
Bachelor's+47.2%
Housing tenure
61.3%
38.7%
Owner61.3%
Renter38.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Grafton, WI has changed in 5 years

Income
$77,518 → $89,861
up 15.9%
Population
12,081 → 12,445
up 3.0%
Renter share
32.8% → 38.7%
+5.9 pts
Bachelor's+
44.4% → 47.2%
+2.8 pts
Median age
42.3 → 41.5
-0.8 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in Grafton, WI now reports about $89,861, up from $77,518 in 2021. Census counts show Grafton, WI adding about 364 residents over the five-year window, up 3.0% on net. The renter share has risen from 32.8% to 38.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 44.4% to 47.2% across the same window.

Community

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

Can you afford rent in Grafton on your salary?

At $2,016/mo, how Grafton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Grafton rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Grafton

About renting in Grafton, WI

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Grafton is $2,016/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $930/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,240/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,040/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,540/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($89,861/yr), Grafton ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Grafton?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $81,000/year (about $39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,016/mo in Grafton. The local median household income is $89,861/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Grafton?

Rent in Grafton has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Grafton rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?

Grafton is one of the pricier among Wisconsin cities for rent, ranking #2 of 56 tracked cities at $2,016/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Grafton?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Grafton ($2,016/mo) include Germantown ($1,547/mo), Saukville ($1,598/mo), and Glendale ($1,649/mo).
Income Affordability
27%
AFFORDABLE

At $2,016/mo, rent takes ~27% of Grafton's median household income ($89,861/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Grafton 27%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.5–7.65%
Run the Grafton affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Grafton, WI

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