City Report · WI

West Allis

Pop. 59,612·28th most expensive in Wisconsin·West Allis rents are up 6.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,445/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.3%

Month-over-Month

+1.1%

vs US Median

-$487

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

West Allis · $1,445

More affordable than 79% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

52/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where West Allis's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,445/mo

Expected by trend

$1,459/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$930

1 BR

$1,045

2 BR

$1,245

3 BR

$1,540

4 BR+

$1,685

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,245/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,445 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

Cheapest month to sign

February. Asking rents in West Allis usually run 0.5% below trend in February and 0.4% above it in April, about $13 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in West Allis is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2017.

Past year vs. the rest of Wisconsin

Rent in West Allis changed +6.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 42 Wisconsin cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in West Allis rose 40.7% while median household income rose 29.2% ($52,325 to $67,611). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in West Allis is 55% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($67,611) is $1,690 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,685).

Cheaper nearby

South Milwaukee, 11 miles away, rents for 21% less ($1,148/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for West Allis. 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.

Annual cost

$17,340/yr

At $1,445/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.3% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

West Allis, WI is majority owner-occupied, 29.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

59,612

Median income

$67,611

Median age

39.7

Renters

44.5%

Age distribution

19.3%

24.3%

24.4%

14.7%

17.3%

Under 1819.3%

18–3424.3%

35–5424.4%

55–6414.7%

65+17.3%

Gender

50%

Male50%

Female50%

Race & ethnicity

72.9%

17.1%

White72.9%

Black5.7%

Hispanic17.1%

Asian2.7%

Other1.6%

Education (25+)

31.1%

31.4%

29.6%

No HS diploma8%

HS diploma31.1%

Some college31.4%

Bachelor's+29.6%

Housing tenure

55.5%

44.5%

Owner55.5%

Renter44.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How West Allis, WI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,009 → $1,445

up 43.2%

Income

$58,738 → $67,611

up 15.1%

Population

60,220 → 59,612

down 1.0%

Renter share

48.1% → 44.5%

-3.6 pts

Bachelor's+

25.7% → 29.6%

+3.9 pts

Median age

38.2 → 39.7

+1.5 yrs

Five years ago, renters in West Allis, WI paid around $1,009 a month. That figure now sits near $1,445, up 43.2% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in West Allis, WI now reports about $67,611, up from $58,738 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show West Allis, WI losing about 608 residents over the five-year window, down 1.0% on net. The renter share has eased from 48.1% to 44.5%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 25.7% to 29.6% across the same window. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and West Allis, WI reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about West Allis

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View West Allis rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in West Allis on your salary?

At $1,445/mo, how West Allis rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $89,756/yr · Rent = 19.3% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,726/yr · Rent = 27.2% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $73,407/yr · Rent = 23.6% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $131,205/yr · Rent = 13.2% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $167,647/yr · Rent = 10.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,670/yr · Rent = 29.1% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $53,875/yr · Rent = 32.2% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $66,405/yr · Rent = 26.1% income

affordable

By apartment size

West Allis rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in West Allis

About renting in West Allis, WI

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in West Allis is $1,445/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $930/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,245/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,045/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,540/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($67,611/yr), West Allis ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in West Allis?

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 $1,445/mo in West Allis. The local median household income is $67,611/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in West Allis?

Rent in West Allis has risen 6.3% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2017.

When is the cheapest time to rent in West Allis?

Asking rents in West Allis are usually lowest in February, about 0.5% below their yearly trend, and highest in April, about 0.4% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $13 a month. This pattern comes from 8 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in West Allis?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in West Allis rose 40.7% while median household income rose 29.2%, from $52,325 to $67,611. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

Which West Allis neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in West Allis are 53227 ($1,354/mo), and 53214 ($1,476/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $1,445/mo.

How does West Allis rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?

West Allis is in the middle among Wisconsin cities for rent, ranking #28 of 56 tracked cities at $1,445/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in West Allis changed +6.3%, against a typical +5.3% across the 42 Wisconsin cities Zillow tracks.