ZIP 53218
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12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in ZIP 53218 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.
Rent in ZIP 53218 changed +5.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 71 Wisconsin ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.6%.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($45,642) is $1,141 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($970); a 2-bedroom is $1,160.
8th cheapest of 19 ZIP codes in Milwaukee.
ZIP 53206, 4 miles away, rents for 24% less ($994/mo), about $3,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 53218. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Who lives here
ZIP 53218 (Milwaukee, WI) is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 10.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 53218 in Milwaukee, WI has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 53218 in Milwaukee, WI has shifted from $945 to $1,301, up 37.7% since 2022. Household income in the area moved from $39,820 to $45,642 across the same window, up 14.6% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 53218 in Milwaukee, WI losing about 2,106 residents over the five-year window, down 4.9% on net. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 53218 in Milwaukee, WI look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 53218
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 53218 covers Milwaukee, WI. The median rent here is $1,301/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $970/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,160/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($45,642/yr), ZIP 53218 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 53218 compare to other ZIPs in Wisconsin?
How does ZIP 53218 compare to the rest of Milwaukee?
At $1,301/mo, rent takes ~34% of ZIP 53218's median household income ($45,642/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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