City · 7,732 residents · Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Jefferson, Wisconsin
In Jefferson, a typical home is worth $225,600 and typical rent is $1,071 a month. Compared with all of Jefferson County, the typical home value is 18% lower, typical household income is 6% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 6 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $262,812 to $345,449.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Jefferson is in Jefferson County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Jefferson County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
The typical home in Jefferson is worth $225,600,18% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($274,100).
2
67% of households in Jefferson own their home, against 73% in Jefferson County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Jefferson
What homes there are in Jefferson, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Jefferson
Jefferson County
Wisconsin
United States
Kind of home: Jefferson and its comparisons
Measure
Jefferson
Jefferson County
Wisconsin
United States
Detached house
69%
72%
66%
61%
Attached house
5%
4%
4%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
6%
7%
9%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
19%
14%
17%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
4%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
As in Jefferson County, most homes in Jefferson are detached houses (69%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Jefferson
Jefferson County
Wisconsin
United States
Year built: Jefferson and its comparisons
Measure
Jefferson
Jefferson County
Wisconsin
United States
Before 1960
45%
38%
33%
26%
1960–1979
14%
21%
24%
24%
1980–1999
26%
21%
22%
25%
2000–2009
13%
14%
13%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
6%
9%
11%
There are fewer big homes in Jefferson than in Jefferson County: 61% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 67%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K7%
$100K–$200K35%
$200K–$300K27%
$300K–$500K28%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Jefferson and its comparisons
Measure
Jefferson
Under $100K
7%
$100K–$200K
35%
$200K–$300K
27%
$300K–$500K
28%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
At least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Jefferson are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Jefferson County ($541,287).
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99927%
$1,000–$1,49950%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Jefferson and its comparisons
Measure
Jefferson
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
27%
$1,000–$1,499
50%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,568 a month
Jefferson County: $1,730 a month
Without a mortgage
$672 a month
Jefferson County: $691 a month
Owners with a mortgage
53%
Jefferson County: 62%
Owning costs less in Jefferson: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,568 a month; in Jefferson County, $1,730. Without one, $672.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Jefferson+39%
Jefferson County+44%
Wisconsin+48%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Jefferson+32%
Jefferson County+21%
Wisconsin+27%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Jefferson+33%
Jefferson County+26%
Wisconsin+26%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Jefferson and its comparisons
Measure
Jefferson
Jefferson County
Wisconsin
United States
Typical home value
+39%
+44%
+48%
+53%
Typical rent
+32%
+21%
+27%
+33%
Typical household income
+33%
+26%
+26%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Jefferson rose 39%; in Jefferson County, it rose 44%.
Rents in Jefferson rose faster than in Jefferson County: 32% since 2015–2019, against 21%.
While home values in Jefferson changed +39% and rent +32%, the typical household income rose 33%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Jefferson and its comparisons
Measure
Jefferson
Jefferson County
Wisconsin
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
4.5%
4.5%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.5%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
1.3%
1.7%
3.4%
People per household
2.24
2.37
2.33
2.53
Drive alone
80%
77%
74%
69%
Carpool
12%
8%
7%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
3%
3%
3%
Work from home
5%
11%
13%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Fewer people live in each home here: 2.24 on average, against 2.37 in Jefferson County.
Carpooling is common in Jefferson: 12% of workers get to work that way, against 8% in Jefferson County.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Jefferson?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Jefferson, worth $225,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 31% of the typical household income in Jefferson, which is $79,006 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $87,523 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Jefferson County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Jefferson. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $7,896 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,042
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$221,514
Total interest
$318,706
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $3,810 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,843 a month
Tight
$1,843 to $2,370 a month
Your payment · 31%
Hard
more than $2,370 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Jefferson ($79,006 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,501
Property tax
$348
Home insurance
$94
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$100
You need at least $7,896 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $2,042; principal and interest $1,501.
The city and its county
Jefferson and Jefferson County
Jefferson is in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Jefferson
Map of Jefferson County, Wisconsin, with Jefferson marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Jefferson
Jefferson County
Other cities with a page
Jefferson's own numbers
Typical home value
$225,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,071
Typical yearly household income
$79,006
Households that own their home
67%
Effective property tax rate
1.85%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Jefferson County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,209
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+56%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.4%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Jefferson County.
A typical home in Jefferson is worth $225,600: 18% below the county and 15% below Wisconsin. With the typical household income in Jefferson ($79,006 a year), a typical home costs 2.9 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Jefferson2.9 years
County3.3 years
Wisconsin3.4 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Jefferson County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Jefferson County rose 93% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Jefferson County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Jefferson County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +3.5% +3.5% 2016
2017: +5.0% +5.0% 2017
2018: +5.5% +5.5% 2018
2019: +5.3% +5.3% 2019
2020: +2.5% +2.5% 2020
2021: +10.1% +10.1% 2021
2022: +13.9% +13.9% 2022
2023: +10.7% +10.7% 2023
2024: +6.7% +6.7% 2024
2025: +5.3% +5.3% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Jefferson County, Wisconsin and the United States
Period
County
Wisconsin
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+5.3%
+5.4%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+56%
+57%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+93%
+96%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Jefferson next to Jefferson County, Wisconsin and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Jefferson$225,600
County$274,100
Wisconsin$266,500
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Jefferson$1,071
County$1,035
Wisconsin$1,087
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Jefferson$79,006
County$83,750
Wisconsin$77,485
United States$80,734
See the full table
Jefferson next to Jefferson County and Wisconsin
Measure
Jefferson
Jefferson County
Wisconsin
U.S.
Typical home value
$225,600 ▼18% below the county
$274,100
$266,500
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,071 ▲3% above the county
$1,035
$1,087
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$79,006 ▼6% below the county
$83,750
$77,485
$80,734
Households that own their home
67% ▼6 points below the county
73%
68%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$4,177 ▲4% above the county
$4,005
$3,792
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.85% ▲0.39 points above the county
1.46%
1.42%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
44% ▲5 points above the county
39%
44%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Jefferson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Jefferson
For a typical $225,600 home in Jefferson, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Jefferson's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,042a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$7,896
Cash to close
$14,664
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $100
Conventional, 5% down$2,001a month
Down payment
$11,280
Cash to close
$18,048
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $107
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,664a month
Down payment
$45,120
Cash to close
$51,888
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,873a month
Down payment
$33,840
Cash to close
$40,608
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Jefferson
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,042
$7,896
$221,514
7.18%
FHA MIP · $100
$14,664
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,001
$11,280
$214,320
7.18%
PMI · $107
$18,048
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,664
$45,120
$180,480
7.18%
None
$51,888
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,873
$33,840
$191,760
8.18%
None
$40,608
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Jefferson is $1,071 a month: 3% above the county. In Jefferson, 44% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Jefferson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,209 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.25 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Jefferson County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$842
$16.19
$33,680
1 bedroom
$958
$18.42
$38,320
2 bedrooms
$1,209
$23.25
$48,360
3 bedrooms
$1,635
$31.44
$65,400
4 bedrooms
$1,652
$31.77
$66,080
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Jefferson
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Jefferson is in ZIP code 53549.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,220: $11 more than the fair market rent for Jefferson County ($1,209).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Jefferson, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
53549
$850
$970
$1,220
$1,650
$1,670
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
53549 $1,220$1,650
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Jefferson when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 10 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Jefferson. These are the largest.
River Crest & Scat Sites431 N Elizabeth Ave, Jefferson 5354962 low-income homes · Run by Jefferson Housing Authority · Average payment: $591 a month · Average wait: 76 months · Homes at several sites(920) 674-5294
Jefferson Senior Housing203 N Jackson Ave, Jefferson 5354949 low-income homes · 1 bd: 32 · 2 bd: 17 · In service since 1997
Jefferson Oaks West Apartments612 Collins Rd, Jefferson 5354940 low-income homes · For families(920) 674-4450
School House Apts (jefferson)201 S Copeland Ave, Jefferson 5354935 homes, 30 low-income · 1 bd: 21 · 2 bd: 14 · In service since 2001
Alverno Housing128 S Kranz Ave, Jefferson 5354936 homes, 26 low-income · For people with disabilities(262) 798-9509
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Jefferson County; none says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Jefferson or Jefferson County. The ones below are statewide in Wisconsin: they work in Jefferson the same as in the rest of the state.
Wisconsin state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to 6% of the price, over 10 years with a monthly payment and the same rate as the WHEDA first mortgage.Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).
$7,500 loan from the Wisconsin state agency for the down payment and closing costs, over 30 years, at 0% and with no monthly payments, alongside a WHEDA mortgage; limited funds, first come, first served.Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Jefferson or Jefferson County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Jefferson and all of Jefferson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Jefferson?
The typical home value in Jefferson is $225,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Jefferson County it is $274,100.
How much does it cost to rent in Jefferson?
Typical rent in Jefferson is $1,071 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Jefferson County is $1,209.
What is the FHA loan limit in Jefferson?
Jefferson uses the FHA limit for all of Jefferson County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Jefferson?
The typical homeowner in Jefferson pays $4,177 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.85% of the home’s value; in Jefferson County, the rate is 1.46%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Jefferson?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Jefferson County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
