How much does it cost to rent in Waukesha, WI?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Waukesha, WI is $1,490. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Waukesha cheaper than other Wisconsin cities?

Waukesha falls in the middle range for Wisconsin, ranking #27 out of 62 cities at $1,490/mo.

When was Waukesha rent data last updated?

Waukesha rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · WI

Waukesha

Name: Average Rent Prices in Waukesha, WI
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 8,514·27th most expensive in Wisconsin·Rental market data updated monthly for Waukesha, WI

Median rent (all units)

$1,490/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.7%

Month-over-Month

-1.3%

vs US Median

-$475

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Waukesha · $1,490

More affordable than 76% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

59/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 4% below what Waukesha's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,490/mo

Expected by trend

$1,559/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Waukesha's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,045

1 BR

$1,170

2 BR

$1,395

3 BR

$1,730

4 BR+

$1,890

Research median

$1,395/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$17,880/yr

At $1,490/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.7% YoY, -1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Waukesha, WI is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 49.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

8,514

Median income

$130,978

Median age

47.2

Renters

7.4%

Age distribution

19.5%

14.4%

28.3%

19.1%

18.8%

Under 1819.5%

18–3414.4%

35–5428.3%

55–6419.1%

65+18.8%

Gender

48.3%

51.7%

Male48.3%

Female51.7%

Race & ethnicity

92.7%

White92.7%

Hispanic3.3%

Asian2.1%

Other1.8%

Education (25+)

22.1%

26.5%

49.4%

No HS diploma2%

HS diploma22.1%

Some college26.5%

Bachelor's+49.4%

Housing tenure

92.6%

Owner92.6%

Renter7.4%

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

2022 vs 2026

How Waukesha, WI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,223 → $1,490

up 21.8%

Income

$119,685 → $130,978

up 9.4%

Population

8,455 → 8,514

up 0.7%

Renter share

7.2% → 7.4%

+0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

44.8% → 49.4%

+4.6 pts

Median age

49.2 → 47.2

-2.0 yrs

The median rent in Waukesha, WI stood at $1,223 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,490, reflecting a 21.8% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $119,685 to $130,978 across the same window, up 9.4% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 49.4% of adults here, versus 44.8% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Waukesha, WI look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Waukesha

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View Waukesha rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Waukesha on your salary?

At $1,490/mo, how Waukesha rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $89,756/yr · Rent = 19.9% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,726/yr · Rent = 28.1% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $73,407/yr · Rent = 24.4% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $131,205/yr · Rent = 13.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $167,647/yr · Rent = 10.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,670/yr · Rent = 30% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $53,875/yr · Rent = 33.2% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $66,405/yr · Rent = 26.9% income

affordable

By apartment size

Waukesha rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Waukesha

About renting in Waukesha, WI

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Waukesha is $1,490/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,045/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,395/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,170/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,730/mo.

At 14% of local median household income ($130,978/yr), Waukesha ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Waukesha an affordable city for renters?

Waukesha is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,490/mo, rent takes approximately 14% of the local median household income ($130,978/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Waukesha falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Waukesha?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $60,000/year (~$29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,490/mo in Waukesha. The local median household income is $130,978/yr, meaning the typical Waukesha household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Waukesha?

Rent in Waukesha has increased 3.7% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Waukesha neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Waukesha are 53186 ($1,271/mo), and 53188 ($1,595/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Waukesha is $1,490/mo.

How does Waukesha rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?

Waukesha is middle-of-the-pack for Wisconsin for rent, ranking #27 out of 62 tracked cities at $1,490/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Waukesha?

West Allis is nearby and more affordable at $1,372/mo, which is $118 less than Waukesha.

What percentage of Waukesha residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 7.4% of Waukesha households are renters, while 92.6% are owner-occupied. Waukesha leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Waukesha rent compare to the national average?

Waukesha's median rent of $1,490/mo is $475 (24%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Wisconsin, it ranks #27 out of 62 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

14%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,490/mo, rent takes ~14% of Waukesha's median household income ($130,978/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Waukesha 14%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3.5–7.65%

Run the Waukesha affordability calculator →

Nearby cities