ZIP Code · WI

ZIP 53215

Part of Milwaukee, WI

Pop. 58,146·Milwaukee County·95th most expensive ZIP in Wisconsin

Median rent (all units)

$1,072/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.8%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

-$860

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 53215 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 53215 · $1,072

More affordable than 96% 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

$870

1 BR

$960

2 BR

$1,140

3 BR

$1,410

4 BR+

$1,540

Research median

$1,140/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 53215 is 1.5% below its high of $1,088 in July 2026, at $1,072 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Wisconsin

Rent in ZIP 53215 changed +7.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 71 Wisconsin ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.6%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($54,289) is $1,357 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,140); a 3-bedroom is $1,410.

Rank in Milwaukee

2nd cheapest of 19 ZIP codes in Milwaukee.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 53215. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$12,864/yr

At $1,072/mo median

Location

CityMilwaukee

StateWI

CountyMilwaukee County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 7.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.8% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 53215 (Milwaukee, WI) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 11.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

58,146

Median income

$54,289

Median age

31.9

Renters

52.6%

Age distribution

28.7%

25%

27.1%

Under 1828.7%

18–3425%

35–5427.1%

55–649.6%

65+9.5%

Gender

50.7%

49.3%

Male50.7%

Female49.3%

Race & ethnicity

24.6%

69%

White24.6%

Black6.3%

Hispanic69%

Asian5.9%

Education (25+)

34.1%

31.6%

23%

No HS diploma34.1%

HS diploma31.6%

Some college23%

Bachelor's+11.3%

Housing tenure

47.4%

52.6%

Owner47.4%

Renter52.6%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 53215 in Milwaukee, WI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$796 → $1,072

up 34.7%

Income

$44,086 → $54,289

up 23.1%

Population

59,400 → 58,146

down 2.1%

Renter share

54.1% → 52.6%

-1.5 pts

Bachelor's+

11.7% → 11.3%

-0.4 pts

Median age

30.7 → 31.9

+1.2 yrs

Compared with 2022, rent in ZIP 53215 in Milwaukee, WI has climbed by $276 per month, settling near $1,072 after starting the period at $796. Census figures show median household income at $54,289 today, compared with $44,086 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 11.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 59,400 to 58,146 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.1% change. About 52.6% of households rent today, against 54.1% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 53215

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 53215

About renting in ZIP 53215

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 53215 covers Milwaukee, WI. The median rent here is $1,072/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $960/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,140/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($54,289/yr), ZIP 53215 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 53215?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $43,000/year (about $21/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,072/mo in ZIP 53215. The local median household income is $54,289/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 53215?

Rent in ZIP 53215 has risen 7.8% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 1.5% below its high of $1,088 in July 2026.

How does ZIP 53215 compare to other ZIPs in Wisconsin?

ZIP 53215 is one of the more affordable among Wisconsin ZIP codes for rent, ranking #95 of 103 at $1,072/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 53215 changed +7.8%, against a typical +5.6% across the 71 Wisconsin ZIP codes Zillow tracks.