Rents are right about where Kenosha's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,627 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in Kenosha usually run 1.2% below trend in February and 0.6% above it in May, about $29 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Kenosha is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in June 2016.
Rent in Kenosha changed +5.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 42 Wisconsin cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Kenosha rose 33.7% while median household income rose 28.6% ($55,417 to $71,239). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Kenosha is 45.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($71,239) is $1,781 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,477); a 3-bedroom is $1,983.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Kenosha, 53142 ($1,883/mo), costs 27% more than the cheapest, 53143 ($1,480/mo).
Zion, IL, 7 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,396/mo), about $2,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Kenosha. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Kenosha, WI is majority owner-occupied, 29% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Kenosha, WI has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Kenosha, WI stood at $1,135 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,627, reflecting a 43.3% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $71,239 today, compared with $60,219 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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At $1,627/mo, how Kenosha rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Kenosha rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Kenosha. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Kenosha
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Kenosha is $1,627/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,123/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,477/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,133/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,983/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($71,239/yr), Kenosha ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Kenosha rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?
At $1,627/mo, rent takes ~27% of Kenosha's median household income ($71,239/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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