The Wisconsin rental market
Wisconsin tracks median rent across 56 cities, ranging from Wausau at $954/mo to Brookfield at $2,222/mo. The state average of $1,462/mo runs about 24% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across Wisconsin cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +5.6% over the past year. 5 of 66 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 61 fall below it. The largest rental markets are Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 1 of 56 Wisconsin cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
17 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, Brookfield ($2,222/mo) costs 2.3 times as much as Wausau ($954/mo).
Across 7 Wisconsin cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in January and peak in June, a typical swing of 0.9%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent grew faster than median household income in 5 of 5 Wisconsin cities with both figures. See where the gap is widest.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Wisconsin cities, as of September 2026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).
Wisconsin rent questions
What is the average rent in Wisconsin?
The average median rent across 56 tracked cities in Wisconsin is $1,462/mo, about 24% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which Wisconsin city has the highest rent?
Brookfield has the highest median rent in Wisconsin at $2,222/mo.
Which Wisconsin city has the most affordable rent?
Wausau is the most affordable tracked city in Wisconsin, with a median rent of $954/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in Wisconsin?
Across Wisconsin cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +5.6% over the past year.
How does Wisconsin rent compare to the rest of the country?
5 of 66 tracked Wisconsin cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 61 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in Wisconsin?
By population, the largest rental markets in Wisconsin are Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.