At $1,041/mo, rent takes about 23% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,041 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 Wisconsin Rapids changed +7.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 42 Wisconsin cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($55,253) is $1,381 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,340).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Wisconsin Rapids. 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
Wisconsin Rapids, WI is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 18.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Wisconsin Rapids, WI has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $55,253 today, compared with $46,644 five years earlier. About 43.9% of households rent today, against 46.1% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 14.7% to 18.1%.
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Can you afford rent in Wisconsin Rapids on your salary?
At $1,041/mo, how Wisconsin Rapids rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Wisconsin Rapids rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Wisconsin Rapids. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Wisconsin Rapids
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Wisconsin Rapids is $1,041/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $715/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,010/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $770/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,290/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($55,253/yr), Wisconsin Rapids ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Wisconsin Rapids?
Which Wisconsin Rapids neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Wisconsin Rapids rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Wisconsin Rapids?
At $1,041/mo, rent takes ~23% of Wisconsin Rapids's median household income ($55,253/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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