Milwaukee Metro Area, WI Local Data & Statistics

State: WI

Total population: 1,568,938 Household income: $78,218 Rent: $1,139

Overview

Total population

1,568,938

Rent

$1,139

Year built

1967

Household income

$78,218

Per capita income

$45,732

Poverty rate

12.3%

Unemployment rate

3.2%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

45.2%

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

Total population

1,568,938

Adults over 25

1,079,400

Total households

656,436

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

$78,218

Per capita income

$45,732

Poverty rate

12.3%

Unemployment rate

3.2%

Rent over 30% of income

45.2%

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

Housing

Rent

$1,139

Year built

1967

Households that rent

39.6%

Households that own

60.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

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

Race

White

65.9%

Black

15.9%

Asian

4.2%

Two or more races

9.9%

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

12.1%

Not Hispanic or Latino

87.9%

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

84.8%

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

15.2%

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

25.1%

High school graduate or GED

25.2%

Some college or associate degree

10.1%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

39.6%

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 Metro Area, WI with: Wisconsin United States

Milwaukee Metro Area

Total population1,568,938

Rent$1,139

Year built1967

Household income$78,218

Per capita income$45,732

Poverty rate12.3%

Unemployment rate3.2%

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	Metro AreaMilwaukee Metro Area	StateWisconsin	CountryUnited States
Total population	1,568,938	5,914,872	334,922,499
Rent	$1,139	$1,087	$1,413
Year built	1967	1975	1980
Household income	$78,218	$77,485	$80,734
Per capita income	$45,732	$43,373	$44,673
Poverty rate	12.3%	10.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.2%	3%	4%

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

Summary for Milwaukee Metro Area, WI

Milwaukee metro area is located in WI.

Rent & Income

The typical monthly rent in this metro area is $1,139, while the typical household income is $78,218. Rent in this metro area is similar to Wisconsin and lower than the U.S., and household income is similar to both Wisconsin and the U.S.

Housing & Affordability

This metro area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 39.6% of households. About 45.2% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high cost burden. The poverty rate is about 12.3%, which is higher than the Wisconsin rate and similar to the national rate.

Education & Employment

The local unemployment rate is about 3.2%, which is higher than the Wisconsin rate and lower than the national rate.

Milwaukee Metro Area, WI — Rent vs Household Income

Milwaukee Metro Area, WI — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Milwaukee Metro Area, WI (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,139 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 Metro Area, WI

Annual Household Income: $78,218

💡 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 Metro Area, WI

Estimated Rate: 12.3%

💡 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 Metro Area, WI

In Milwaukee Metro Area, WI, households that rent: 260,051 (39.6%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	260,051	39.6%
Owner-Occupied	396,385	60.4%

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 Metro Area, WI

In Milwaukee Metro Area, WI, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 117,445 (45.2%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	117,445	45.2%
Other renter households	142,606	54.8%
Total renter households	260,051	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 Metro Area, WI

Less than High School: 271,264 people (25.1%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 272,006 people (25.2%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 108,542 people (10.1%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 427,588 people (39.6%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 1,079,400

📊 Unemployment Rate in Milwaukee Metro Area, WI

Estimated Rate: 3.2%

💡 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%.

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.