Milwaukee, WI Local Data & Statistics

State: WI

Total population: 566,973 Household income: $54,234 Rent: $1,059

Overview

Total population

566,973

Rent

$1,059

Year built

1953

Household income

$54,234

Per capita income

$30,994

Poverty rate

22.8%

Unemployment rate

3.9%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

47.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Wisconsin

Total population

566,973

Adults over 25

356,773

Total households

232,520

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$54,234

Per capita income

$30,994

Poverty rate

22.8%

Unemployment rate

3.9%

Rent over 30% of income

47.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,059

Year built

1953

Households that rent

58.2%

Households that own

41.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.8

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

34.2%

Black

38.5%

Asian

5.1%

Two or more races

14.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

20.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

79.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

87.1%

Commute time to work

22 mins

Work from home

12.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

32.4%

High school graduate or GED

30.4%

Some college or associate degree

9.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

27.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Milwaukee, WI with: Wisconsin United States

Milwaukee, WI

Total population566,973

Rent$1,059

Year built1953

Household income$54,234

Per capita income$30,994

Poverty rate22.8%

Unemployment rate3.9%

Wisconsin State

Total population5,914,872

Rent$1,087

Year built1975

Household income$77,485

Per capita income$43,373

Poverty rate10.6%

Unemployment rate3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityMilwaukee, WI	StateWisconsin	CountryUnited States
Total population	566,973	5,914,872	334,922,499
Rent	$1,059	$1,087	$1,413
Year built	1953	1975	1980
Household income	$54,234	$77,485	$80,734
Per capita income	$30,994	$43,373	$44,673
Poverty rate	22.8%	10.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.9%	3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Milwaukee, WI, Wisconsin and United States →

Summary for Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee is located in Wisconsin.

Rent & Income

In Milwaukee, the typical monthly rent is $1,059 and the typical household income is $54,234. Rent here is similar to Wisconsin and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Wisconsin and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 22.8%, which is higher than in both Wisconsin and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 58.2% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 47.8% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 27.4% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.9%, which is higher than Wisconsin and similar to the national rate.

Milwaukee, WI — Rent vs Household Income

Milwaukee, WI — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Milwaukee, WI compares in Wisconsin (12 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,059	9 / 12	from lower rent	$932 – $1,413
Household income	$54,234	12 / 12	from higher income	$54,234 – $83,837
Poverty rate	22.8%	12 / 12	from lower poverty	8.3% – 22.8%
Unemployment rate	3.9%	12 / 12	from lower unemployment	2.2% – 3.9%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Wisconsin with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Milwaukee, WI

Rent

For typical rent levels, Milwaukee is ranked 9th out of 12 major areas in Wisconsin. Statewide values span from $932 in Green Bay, WI to $1,413 in Madison, WI.

Household income

Milwaukee ranks 12th among 12 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $54,234 in Milwaukee, WI to $83,837 in Waukesha, WI.

Poverty rate

Poverty levels put Milwaukee in 12th place among 12 significant areas. Across Wisconsin, poverty ranges between 8.3% and 22.8%.

Unemployment rate

For unemployment, Milwaukee ranks 12th out of 12 large places. Across Wisconsin, unemployment ranges from 2.2% in Madison, WI to 3.9% in Milwaukee, WI.

💰 Rent in Milwaukee, WI (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,059 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Milwaukee, WI

Annual Household Income: $54,234

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Milwaukee, WI

Estimated Rate: 22.8%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Milwaukee, WI

In Milwaukee, WI, households that rent: 135,297 (58.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	135,297	58.2%
Owner-Occupied	97,223	41.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Milwaukee, WI

In Milwaukee, WI, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 64,735 (47.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	64,735	47.8%
Other renter households	70,562	52.2%
Total renter households	135,297	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Milwaukee, WI

Less than High School: 115,654 people (32.4%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 108,358 people (30.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 34,845 people (9.8%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 97,916 people (27.4%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 356,773

📊 Unemployment Rate in Milwaukee, WI

Estimated Rate: 3.9%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Albuquerque, NM562,488 Baltimore, MD577,193 Fresno, CA543,615 Tucson, AZ543,348 Sacramento, CA524,802 Kansas City, MO508,233 Mesa, AZ507,478 Memphis, TN629,063 Atlanta, GA499,287 Detroit, MI636,644

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.