ZIP Code · WI

ZIP 53172

Part of South Milwaukee, WI

Pop. 20,442·Milwaukee County·84th most expensive ZIP in Wisconsin

Median rent (all units)

$1,148/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+2.7%

vs US Median

-$784

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 53172 · $1,148

More affordable than 94% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$970

1 BR

$1,060

2 BR

$1,270

3 BR

$1,560

4 BR+

$1,690

Research median

$1,270/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Wisconsin

Rent in ZIP 53172 changed +11.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 71 Wisconsin ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($73,427) is $1,836 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,690).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 53172. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$13,776/yr

At $1,148/mo median

Location

CitySouth Milwaukee

StateWI

CountyMilwaukee County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +2.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 53172 (South Milwaukee, WI) is majority owner-occupied, 29.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

20,442

Median income

$73,427

Median age

40.2

Renters

33.2%

Age distribution

22.2%

22%

23.3%

13.7%

18.9%

Under 1822.2%

18–3422%

35–5423.3%

55–6413.7%

65+18.9%

Gender

49.6%

50.4%

Male49.6%

Female50.4%

Race & ethnicity

81.2%

12.2%

White81.2%

Black2.5%

Hispanic12.2%

Asian1.3%

Other2.9%

Education (25+)

32.8%

31.3%

29.9%

No HS diploma6%

HS diploma32.8%

Some college31.3%

Bachelor's+29.9%

Housing tenure

66.8%

33.2%

Owner66.8%

Renter33.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 53172 in South Milwaukee, WI has changed in 5 years

Income

$61,046 → $73,427

up 20.3%

Population

20,785 → 20,442

down 1.7%

Renter share

37.4% → 33.2%

-4.2 pts

Bachelor's+

25.3% → 29.9%

+4.6 pts

Median age

41.1 → 40.2

-0.9 yrs

Median household income grew from $61,046 to $73,427 between 2021 and 2024, a 20.3% shift. Headcount in the area went from 20,785 to 20,442 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.7% change. About 33.2% of households rent today, against 37.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 25.3% to 29.9%.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 53172

About renting in ZIP 53172

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 53172 covers South Milwaukee, WI. The median rent here is $1,148/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,060/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,270/mo.

At 19% of local median household income ($73,427/yr), ZIP 53172 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 53172?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $46,000/year (about $22/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,148/mo in ZIP 53172. The local median household income is $73,427/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 53172?

Rent in ZIP 53172 has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does ZIP 53172 compare to other ZIPs in Wisconsin?

ZIP 53172 is one of the more affordable among Wisconsin ZIP codes for rent, ranking #84 of 103 at $1,148/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 53172 changed +11.7%, against a typical +5.6% across the 71 Wisconsin ZIP codes Zillow tracks.