Best rent-to-income cities in Wisconsin

Cities in Wisconsin ranked by lowest rent as a percentage of median household income. Cities with 15,000+ residents.

Key findings

Bellevue ranks first, with rent at 14.5% of median household income.
Across all 41 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,394/mo.

Data as of September 2026. Twelve months of median rent as a share of Census median household income (5-year estimates). Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)

Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordable Most expensive Rent falling Rent rising Best rent/income Most rent-burdened Record-high rent Seasonal swings Rent vs. income

41 cities

Rank	City	Rent/income	Median rent	Income	Vs. a year ago
01	BellevueWI Pop. 16KCompare →	14.5%	$1,026/mo	$84,672	--
02	AppletonWI Pop. 75KCompare →	17.7%	$1,185/mo	$80,483	↓1 from #1
03	WausauWI Pop. 40KCompare →	17.8%	$954/mo	$64,389	same
04	GermantownWI Pop. 21KCompare →	18.5%	$1,547/mo	$100,231	--
05	NeenahWI Pop. 27KCompare →	18.7%	$1,175/mo	$75,374	same
06	South MilwaukeeWI Pop. 20KCompare →	18.8%	$1,148/mo	$73,427	↓4 from #2
07	JanesvilleWI Pop. 66KCompare →	19.0%	$1,165/mo	$73,446	↓3 from #4
08	West BendWI Pop. 32KCompare →	19.1%	$1,177/mo	$74,076	--
09	Menomonee FallsWI Pop. 40KCompare →	19.4%	$1,621/mo	$100,238	--
10	OnalaskaWI Pop. 19KCompare →	19.5%	$1,394/mo	$85,867	↓3 from #7
11	FranklinWI Pop. 36KCompare →	19.5%	$1,737/mo	$106,894	--
12	Green BayWI Pop. 106KCompare →	19.7%	$1,088/mo	$66,206	↓6 from #6
13	De PereWI Pop. 25KCompare →	19.8%	$1,403/mo	$84,869	--
14	Eau ClaireWI Pop. 70KCompare →	19.9%	$1,119/mo	$67,395	↓6 from #8
15	WauwatosaWI Pop. 49KCompare →	19.9%	$1,680/mo	$101,138	↓5 from #10
16	VeronaWI Pop. 15KCompare →	20.0%	$1,992/mo	$119,606	↓7 from #9
17	WatertownWI Pop. 23KCompare →	20.2%	$1,182/mo	$70,107	--
18	BrookfieldWI Pop. 41KCompare →	20.6%	$2,222/mo	$129,548	↓7 from #11
19	MiddletonWI Pop. 22KCompare →	21.2%	$1,584/mo	$89,524	↓5 from #14
20	OconomowocWI Pop. 19KCompare →	21.3%	$1,891/mo	$106,425	↓7 from #13
21	Sun PrairieWI Pop. 38KCompare →	21.6%	$1,636/mo	$90,942	↓9 from #12
22	Mount PleasantWI Pop. 28KCompare →	22.5%	$1,718/mo	$91,616	↓4 from #18
23	Oak CreekWI Pop. 37KCompare →	22.6%	$1,816/mo	$96,555	↓7 from #16
24	Wisconsin RapidsWI Pop. 19KCompare →	22.6%	$1,041/mo	$55,253	↓9 from #15
25	FitchburgWI Pop. 33KCompare →	23.0%	$1,661/mo	$86,516	↓6 from #19
26	Fond du LacWI Pop. 44KCompare →	23.1%	$1,196/mo	$62,260	↓9 from #17
27	MarshfieldWI Pop. 19KCompare →	23.9%	$1,164/mo	$58,407	--
28	OshkoshWI Pop. 67KCompare →	24.0%	$1,243/mo	$62,188	↓8 from #20
29	Beaver DamWI Pop. 17KCompare →	24.6%	$1,369/mo	$66,673	--
30	RacineWI Pop. 78KCompare →	25.3%	$1,215/mo	$57,740	↓9 from #21
31	River FallsWI Pop. 17KCompare →	25.4%	$1,771/mo	$83,627	↓8 from #23
32	West AllisWI Pop. 60KCompare →	25.6%	$1,445/mo	$67,611	↓10 from #22
33	CudahyWI Pop. 18KCompare →	26.3%	$1,464/mo	$66,719	--
34	BeloitWI Pop. 37KCompare →	26.7%	$1,394/mo	$62,663	↓9 from #25
35	MenashaWI Pop. 18KCompare →	27.0%	$1,457/mo	$64,698	↓11 from #24
36	KenoshaWI Pop. 99KCompare →	27.4%	$1,627/mo	$71,239	↓10 from #26
37	MadisonWI Pop. 278KCompare →	28.2%	$1,837/mo	$78,050	↓9 from #28
38	MenomonieWI Pop. 17KCompare →	28.7%	$1,359/mo	$56,889	↓9 from #29
39	Stevens PointWI Pop. 26KCompare →	28.8%	$1,393/mo	$58,031	↓9 from #30
40	La CrosseWI Pop. 51KCompare →	28.9%	$1,346/mo	$55,866	↓13 from #27
41	MilwaukeeWI Pop. 567KCompare →	31.9%	$1,443/mo	$54,234	↓10 from #31