Rents are 2% below what Sun Prairie'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 $1,636 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 Sun Prairie is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2021.
Rent in Sun Prairie 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 11 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($90,942) is $2,274 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,160).
Watertown, 24 miles away, rents for 28% less ($1,182/mo), about $5,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Sun Prairie. 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
Sun Prairie, WI is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 50.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Sun Prairie, WI has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Sun Prairie, WI paid around $1,290 a month. That figure now sits near $1,636, up 26.8% from the 2022 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $83,409 to $90,942 across the same window, up 9.0% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Sun Prairie, WI adding about 2,042 residents over the five-year window, up 5.7% on net. The renter share has risen from 37.2% to 39.2%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Sun Prairie, WI look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Sun Prairie on your salary?
At $1,636/mo, how Sun Prairie rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Sun Prairie rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Sun Prairie. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Sun Prairie
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Sun Prairie is $1,636/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,080/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,470/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,280/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,930/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($90,942/yr), Sun Prairie ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Sun Prairie?
Is rent going up or down in Sun Prairie?
How does Sun Prairie rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Sun Prairie?
At $1,636/mo, rent takes ~22% of Sun Prairie's median household income ($90,942/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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