ZIP 53208
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12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in ZIP 53208 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.
Rent in ZIP 53208 changed +6.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 71 Wisconsin ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.6%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($52,690) is $1,317 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,220); a 3-bedroom is $1,500.
9th cheapest of 19 ZIP codes in Milwaukee.
ZIP 53233, 2 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,106/mo), about $2,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 53208. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Who lives here
ZIP 53208 (Milwaukee, WI) is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 32.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 53208 in Milwaukee, WI has changed in 5 years
Since 2022, the typical rent in ZIP 53208 in Milwaukee, WI has increased from $952 to $1,302, a 36.8% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 53208 in Milwaukee, WI now reports about $52,690, up from $39,698 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 3.4% since 2021, moving from about 28,155 residents to roughly 27,201. College-educated residents now make up 32.6% of adults here, versus 29.1% in 2021. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 53208 in Milwaukee, WI reflects that arc in its own way.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 53208
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 53208 covers Milwaukee, WI. The median rent here is $1,302/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,020/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,220/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($52,690/yr), ZIP 53208 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 53208 compare to other ZIPs in Wisconsin?
How does ZIP 53208 compare to the rest of Milwaukee?
At $1,302/mo, rent takes ~30% of ZIP 53208's median household income ($52,690/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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