Rents are 6% below what Middleton's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,584 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
Rent in Middleton is 0.6% below its high of $1,594 in August 2026, at $1,584 as of September 2026.
Rent in Middleton changed +0.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 42 Wisconsin cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($89,524) is $2,238 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,170).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Middleton. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Middleton, WI is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 61.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Middleton, WI has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Middleton, WI paid around $1,257 a month. That figure now sits near $1,584, up 26.0% from the 2022 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $78,537 in 2021 to $89,524 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Middleton, WI adding about 667 residents over the five-year window, up 3.1% on net. The renter share has risen from 52% to 54.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Middleton, WI market of 2022.
Discussions about Middleton
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Middleton on your salary?
At $1,584/mo, how Middleton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Middleton rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Middleton. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Middleton
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Middleton is $1,584/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,090/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,480/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,290/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,950/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($89,524/yr), Middleton ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Middleton?
Is rent going up or down in Middleton?
How does Middleton rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?
At $1,584/mo, rent takes ~21% of Middleton's median household income ($89,524/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Middleton.
No discussions yet.