Rents are 3% below what Racine'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 $1,215 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
January. Asking rents in Racine usually run 1.2% below trend in January and 0.7% above it in April, about $23 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Racine is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2021.
Rent in Racine changed +7.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 42 Wisconsin cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($57,740) is $1,444 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,163); a 3-bedroom is $1,513.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Racine, 53405 ($1,458/mo), costs 37% more than the cheapest, 53404 ($1,068/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Racine. 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
Racine, WI is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 21.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Racine, WI has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Racine, WI has climbed by $268 per month, settling near $1,215 after starting the period at $947. On the earnings side, the typical household in Racine, WI now reports about $57,740, up from $48,238 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 8.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 39.8% of households rent today, against 44.7% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 19.2% to 21.4%. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Racine, WI reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Racine on your salary?
At $1,215/mo, how Racine rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Racine rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Racine. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Racine
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Racine is $1,215/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $807/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,163/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $903/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,513/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($57,740/yr), Racine ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Racine?
At $1,215/mo, rent takes ~25% of Racine's median household income ($57,740/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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