City Report · WI

Menasha

Pop. 18,273·27th most expensive in Wisconsin·Menasha rents are up 9.7% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,457/mo
Year-over-Year
+9.7%
Month-over-Month
Stable
vs US Median
-$475
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Menasha · $1,457
More affordable than 78% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
27% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,457/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$58,000/yr
Local median income
$64,698/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Menasha's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$770
1 BR
$810
2 BR
$1,050
3 BR
$1,410
4 BR+
$1,550
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,050/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,457 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

Past year vs. the rest of Wisconsin

Rent in Menasha changed +9.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 42 Wisconsin cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($64,698) is $1,617 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,550).

Cheaper nearby

Appleton, 6 miles away, rents for 19% less ($1,185/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$17,484/yr
At $1,457/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 9.7% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+9.7% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Menasha, WI is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 25.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
18,273
Median income
$64,698
Median age
37.6
Renters
35.7%
Age distribution
23.5%
22.7%
25.6%
14%
14.1%
Under 1823.5%
18–3422.7%
35–5425.6%
55–6414%
65+14.1%
Gender
49.4%
50.6%
Male49.4%
Female50.6%
Race & ethnicity
81%
12.3%
White81%
Black1.6%
Hispanic12.3%
Asian2.9%
Other2.1%
Education (25+)
29.5%
38.1%
25.8%
No HS diploma6.6%
HS diploma29.5%
Some college38.1%
Bachelor's+25.8%
Housing tenure
64.3%
35.7%
Owner64.3%
Renter35.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Menasha, WI has changed in 5 years

Income
$58,182 → $64,698
up 11.2%
Population
18,157 → 18,273
up 0.6%
Renter share
37.2% → 35.7%
-1.5 pts
Bachelor's+
23.4% → 25.8%
+2.4 pts

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $58,182 in 2021 to $64,698 more recently. About 35.7% of households rent today, against 37.2% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 23.4% to 25.8%.

Community

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

Can you afford rent in Menasha on your salary?

At $1,457/mo, how Menasha rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Menasha rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Menasha

About renting in Menasha, WI

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Menasha is $1,457/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $770/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,050/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $810/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,410/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($64,698/yr), Menasha ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Menasha?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $58,000/year (about $28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,457/mo in Menasha. The local median household income is $64,698/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Menasha?

Rent in Menasha has risen 9.7% over the past year.

How does Menasha rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?

Menasha is in the middle among Wisconsin cities for rent, ranking #27 of 56 tracked cities at $1,457/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Menasha changed +9.7%, against a typical +5.3% across the 42 Wisconsin cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Menasha?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Menasha ($1,457/mo) include Kaukauna ($1,116/mo), Neenah ($1,175/mo), and Appleton ($1,185/mo).
Income Affordability
27%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,457/mo, rent takes ~27% of Menasha's median household income ($64,698/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Menasha 27%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.5–7.65%
Run the Menasha affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Menasha
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Menasha, WI

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