ZIP Code · WI

ZIP 53202

Part of Milwaukee, WI

Pop. 25,861·Milwaukee County·9th most expensive ZIP in Wisconsin

Median rent (all units)

$1,912/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.1%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$20

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 53202 · $1,912

More expensive than 56% 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

$1,540

1 BR

$1,680

2 BR

$2,010

3 BR

$2,480

4 BR+

$2,680

Research median

$2,010/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

Cheapest month to sign

November. Asking rents in ZIP 53202 usually run 1.3% below trend in November and 0.9% above it in June, about $42 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 53202 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2016.

Past year vs. the rest of Wisconsin

Rent in ZIP 53202 changed +4.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 71 Wisconsin ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.6%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 53202 rose 19.9% while median household income rose 27.7% ($55,606 to $71,034). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 53202 is 25.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($71,034) is $1,776 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,680); a 2-bedroom is $2,010.

Rank in Milwaukee

19th cheapest of 19 ZIP codes in Milwaukee.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 53203, 1 mile away, rents for 16% less ($1,602/mo), about $3,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 53202. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$22,944/yr

At $1,912/mo median

Location

CityMilwaukee

StateWI

CountyMilwaukee County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.1% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 53202 (Milwaukee, WI) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 67.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

25,861

Median income

$71,034

Median age

32.5

Renters

78.6%

Age distribution

53.4%

20.9%

14.3%

Under 182.3%

18–3453.4%

35–5420.9%

55–649.2%

65+14.3%

Gender

51.5%

48.5%

Male51.5%

Female48.5%

Race & ethnicity

72.9%

White72.9%

Black10.4%

Hispanic6.6%

Asian5.8%

Other4.4%

Education (25+)

18.2%

67.9%

No HS diploma3.1%

HS diploma10.8%

Some college18.2%

Bachelor's+67.9%

Housing tenure

21.4%

78.6%

Owner21.4%

Renter78.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 53202 in Milwaukee, WI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,546 → $1,912

up 23.7%

Income

$58,356 → $71,034

up 21.7%

Population

25,081 → 25,861

up 3.1%

Renter share

79.2% → 78.6%

-0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

66.3% → 67.9%

+1.6 pts

Median age

31.8 → 32.5

+0.7 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 53202 in Milwaukee, WI paid around $1,546 a month. That figure now sits near $1,912, up 23.7% from the 2021 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $58,356 to $71,034 across the same window, up 21.7% versus 2021. Census counts show ZIP 53202 in Milwaukee, WI adding about 780 residents over the five-year window, up 3.1% on net. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 53202 in Milwaukee, WI look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 53202

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 53202 covers Milwaukee, WI. The median rent here is $1,912/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,680/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,010/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($71,034/yr), ZIP 53202 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 53202?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $76,000/year (about $37/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,912/mo in ZIP 53202. The local median household income is $71,034/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 53202?

Rent in ZIP 53202 has risen 4.1% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2016.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 53202?

Asking rents in ZIP 53202 are usually lowest in November, about 1.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 0.9% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $42 a month. This pattern comes from 8 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 53202?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 53202 rose 19.9% while median household income rose 27.7%, from $55,606 to $71,034. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 53202 compare to other ZIPs in Wisconsin?

ZIP 53202 is one of the pricier among Wisconsin ZIP codes for rent, ranking #9 of 103 at $1,912/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 53202 changed +4.1%, against a typical +5.6% across the 71 Wisconsin ZIP codes Zillow tracks.