ZIP Code · WI

ZIP 53186

Part of Waukesha, WI

Pop. 33,374·Waukesha County·60th most expensive ZIP in Wisconsin

Median rent (all units)

$1,378/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.1%

vs US Median

-$554

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 53186 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 53186 · $1,378

More affordable than 81% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,120

1 BR

$1,220

2 BR

$1,460

3 BR

$1,800

4 BR+

$1,950

Research median

$1,460/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 53186 is 0.8% below its high of $1,389 in April 2026, at $1,378 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Wisconsin

Rent in ZIP 53186 changed +4.6% 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 3 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($74,588) is $1,865 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,800); a 4-bedroom is $1,950.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 53186. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$16,536/yr

At $1,378/mo median

Location

CityWaukesha

StateWI

CountyWaukesha County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.5% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 53186 (Waukesha, WI) is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 41.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

33,374

Median income

$74,588

Median age

Renters

44.9%

Age distribution

16.6%

30.6%

22.2%

12.8%

17.8%

Under 1816.6%

18–3430.6%

35–5422.2%

55–6412.8%

65+17.8%

Gender

48.3%

51.7%

Male48.3%

Female51.7%

Race & ethnicity

83.1%

13.3%

White83.1%

Black1.2%

Hispanic13.3%

Asian2.9%

Education (25+)

22.8%

31.2%

41.7%

No HS diploma4.4%

HS diploma22.8%

Some college31.2%

Bachelor's+41.7%

Housing tenure

55.1%

44.9%

Owner55.1%

Renter44.9%

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

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 53186 in Waukesha, WI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,189 → $1,378

up 15.9%

Income

$65,112 → $74,588

up 14.6%

Population

34,163 → 33,374

down 2.3%

Renter share

46.1% → 44.9%

-1.2 pts

Bachelor's+

41% → 41.7%

+0.7 pts

Compared with 2023, rent in ZIP 53186 in Waukesha, WI has climbed by $189 per month, settling near $1,378 after starting the period at $1,189. Median household income grew from $65,112 to $74,588 between 2021 and 2024, a 14.6% shift. Headcount in the area went from 34,163 to 33,374 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.3% change. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 53186 in Waukesha, WI reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 53186

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 53186

About renting in ZIP 53186

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 53186 covers Waukesha, WI. The median rent here is $1,378/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,220/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,460/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($74,588/yr), ZIP 53186 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 53186?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $55,000/year (about $26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,378/mo in ZIP 53186. The local median household income is $74,588/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 53186?

Rent in ZIP 53186 has risen 4.5% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.8% below its high of $1,389 in April 2026.

How does ZIP 53186 compare to other ZIPs in Wisconsin?

ZIP 53186 is in the middle among Wisconsin ZIP codes for rent, ranking #60 of 103 at $1,378/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 53186 changed +4.6%, against a typical +5.6% across the 71 Wisconsin ZIP codes Zillow tracks.