Renting
Data from November 2026
Renting in Wisconsin
The typical rent in Wisconsin is $1,087 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $1,251 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $24.06 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.
Key numbers in Wisconsin
- Typical rent
- $1,087
- per month, Average 2020–2024
- 23% less than the U.S.
- Fair market rent, 2 BR
- $1,251
- HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average
- From $1,014 to $1,734 depending on the county.
- Wage needed
- $24.06
- per hour, 2 bedrooms
- About $50,040 a year to stay under 30% of income.
- Burdened households
- 44%
- spend 30% or more on rent
- Nationwide, 51%.
Fair market rent
What HUD sets by size
HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of Wisconsin, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).
Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.
-
Studio
Wage: $13.58–$24.33 an hour
Lowest: $706 Highest: $1,265
-
1 bedroom
Wage: $14.90–$27.44 an hour
Lowest: $775 Highest: $1,427
-
2 bedrooms
Wage: $19.50–$33.35 an hour
Lowest: $1,014 Highest: $1,734
-
3 bedrooms
Wage: $23.23–$43.54 an hour
Lowest: $1,208 Highest: $2,264
-
4 bedrooms
Wage: $25.63–$48.81 an hour
Lowest: $1,333 Highest: $2,538
Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Wisconsin, 44% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).
Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.
44%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
797,266 renter households in Wisconsin
- Spend half or more of their income 21%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 23%
- Spend less than 30% 56%
By place
Every county, with its figure
The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in Wisconsin. Highest fair market rent first.
| St. Croix County | $1,734 | $1,271 | $33.35 | 34% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce County | $1,734 | $1,044 | $33.35 | 39% |
| Dane County | $1,565 | $1,398 | $30.10 | 48% |
| Kenosha County | $1,441 | $1,219 | $27.71 | 47% |
| La Crosse County | $1,343 | $1,059 | $25.83 | 44% |
| Walworth County | $1,300 | $1,150 | $25.00 | 42% |
| Brown County | $1,287 | $1,031 | $24.75 | 41% |
| Kewaunee County | $1,287 | $847 | $24.75 | 35% |
| Racine County | $1,283 | $1,080 | $24.67 | 43% |
| Rock County | $1,280 | $1,037 | $24.62 | 43% |
| Door County | $1,268 | $1,086 | $24.38 | 44% |
| Waukesha County | $1,263 | $1,356 | $24.29 | 45% |
| Ozaukee County | $1,263 | $1,154 | $24.29 | 43% |
| Washington County | $1,263 | $1,153 | $24.29 | 46% |
| Milwaukee County | $1,263 | $1,101 | $24.29 | 48% |
| Eau Claire County | $1,259 | $1,064 | $24.21 | 39% |
| Chippewa County | $1,259 | $963 | $24.21 | 42% |
| Calumet County | $1,256 | $1,073 | $24.15 | 39% |
| Outagamie County | $1,256 | $1,057 | $24.15 | 37% |
| Fond du Lac County | $1,224 | $960 | $23.54 | 41% |
| Marathon County | $1,217 | $999 | $23.40 | 42% |
| Jefferson County | $1,209 | $1,035 | $23.25 | 39% |
| Douglas County | $1,207 | $909 | $23.21 | 43% |
| Winnebago County | $1,195 | $965 | $22.98 | 41% |
| Sauk County | $1,168 | $1,018 | $22.46 | 40% |
| Sheboygan County | $1,168 | $934 | $22.46 | 34% |
| Columbia County | $1,136 | $978 | $21.85 | 35% |
| Polk County | $1,121 | $957 | $21.56 | 37% |
| Dodge County | $1,100 | $988 | $21.15 | 35% |
| Vernon County | $1,097 | $836 | $21.10 | 35% |
| Iowa County | $1,093 | $954 | $21.02 | 37% |
| Sawyer County | $1,089 | $712 | $20.94 | 35% |
| Portage County | $1,077 | $940 | $20.71 | 39% |
| Florence County | $1,063 | $750 | $20.44 | 34% |
| Trempealeau County | $1,059 | $949 | $20.37 | 35% |
| Dunn County | $1,042 | $985 | $20.04 | 39% |
| Monroe County | $1,039 | $914 | $19.98 | 40% |
| Burnett County | $1,028 | $771 | $19.77 | 43% |
| Oneida County | $1,027 | $885 | $19.75 | 44% |
| Barron County | $1,027 | $879 | $19.75 | 45% |
| Vilas County | $1,022 | $847 | $19.65 | 30% |
| Buffalo County | $1,019 | $876 | $19.60 | 37% |
| Green County | $1,016 | $867 | $19.54 | 33% |
| Juneau County | $1,014 | $879 | $19.50 | 36% |
| Rusk County | $1,014 | $874 | $19.50 | 43% |
| Pepin County | $1,014 | $869 | $19.50 | 46% |
| Wood County | $1,014 | $856 | $19.50 | 38% |
| Waupaca County | $1,014 | $852 | $19.50 | 46% |
| Lafayette County | $1,014 | $830 | $19.50 | 38% |
| Adams County | $1,014 | $828 | $19.50 | 39% |
| Clark County | $1,014 | $823 | $19.50 | 30% |
| Taylor County | $1,014 | $823 | $19.50 | 35% |
| Shawano County | $1,014 | $821 | $19.50 | 42% |
| Green Lake County | $1,014 | $818 | $19.50 | 44% |
| Grant County | $1,014 | $813 | $19.50 | 45% |
| Bayfield County | $1,014 | $812 | $19.50 | 41% |
| Marquette County | $1,014 | $800 | $19.50 | 39% |
| Manitowoc County | $1,014 | $797 | $19.50 | 31% |
| Waushara County | $1,014 | $796 | $19.50 | 40% |
| Marinette County | $1,014 | $795 | $19.50 | 31% |
| Washburn County | $1,014 | $795 | $19.50 | 49% |
| Oconto County | $1,014 | $791 | $19.50 | 42% |
| Crawford County | $1,014 | $789 | $19.50 | 32% |
| Jackson County | $1,014 | $787 | $19.50 | 39% |
| Price County | $1,014 | $786 | $19.50 | 36% |
| Richland County | $1,014 | $771 | $19.50 | 37% |
| Lincoln County | $1,014 | $755 | $19.50 | 52% |
| Ashland County | $1,014 | $721 | $19.50 | 37% |
| Langlade County | $1,014 | $702 | $19.50 | 47% |
| Iron County | $1,014 | $662 | $19.50 | 42% |
| Menominee County | $1,014 | $626 | $19.50 | 43% |
| Forest County | $1,014 | $594 | $19.50 | 32% |
- St. Croix $1,734$33.35
- Pierce $1,734$33.35
- Dane $1,565$30.10
- Kenosha $1,441$27.71
- La Crosse $1,343$25.83
- Walworth $1,300$25.00
- Brown $1,287$24.75
- Kewaunee $1,287$24.75
- Racine $1,283$24.67
- Rock $1,280$24.62
- Door $1,268$24.38
- Waukesha $1,263$24.29
- Ozaukee $1,263$24.29
- Washington $1,263$24.29
- Milwaukee $1,263$24.29
- Eau Claire $1,259$24.21
- Chippewa $1,259$24.21
- Calumet $1,256$24.15
- Outagamie $1,256$24.15
- Fond du Lac $1,224$23.54
- Marathon $1,217$23.40
- Jefferson $1,209$23.25
- Douglas $1,207$23.21
- Winnebago $1,195$22.98
- Sauk $1,168$22.46
- Sheboygan $1,168$22.46
- Columbia $1,136$21.85
- Polk $1,121$21.56
- Dodge $1,100$21.15
- Vernon $1,097$21.10
- Iowa $1,093$21.02
- Sawyer $1,089$20.94
- Portage $1,077$20.71
- Florence $1,063$20.44
- Trempealeau $1,059$20.37
- Dunn $1,042$20.04
- Monroe $1,039$19.98
- Burnett $1,028$19.77
- Oneida $1,027$19.75
- Barron $1,027$19.75
- Vilas $1,022$19.65
- Buffalo $1,019$19.60
- Green $1,016$19.54
- Juneau $1,014$19.50
- Rusk $1,014$19.50
- Pepin $1,014$19.50
- Wood $1,014$19.50
- Waupaca $1,014$19.50
- Lafayette $1,014$19.50
- Adams $1,014$19.50
- Clark $1,014$19.50
- Taylor $1,014$19.50
- Shawano $1,014$19.50
- Green Lake $1,014$19.50
- Grant $1,014$19.50
- Bayfield $1,014$19.50
- Marquette $1,014$19.50
- Manitowoc $1,014$19.50
- Waushara $1,014$19.50
- Marinette $1,014$19.50
- Washburn $1,014$19.50
- Oconto $1,014$19.50
- Crawford $1,014$19.50
- Jackson $1,014$19.50
- Price $1,014$19.50
- Richland $1,014$19.50
- Lincoln $1,014$19.50
- Ashland $1,014$19.50
- Langlade $1,014$19.50
- Iron $1,014$19.50
- Menominee $1,014$19.50
- Forest $1,014$19.50
Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
Your rights as a tenant in Wisconsin
What Wisconsin law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.
See your rights, rule by ruleA summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
- When must they return my deposit?
- 21 days
- Wis. Stat. §704.28; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06(2)
- If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
- 5 days
- Wis. Stat. §704.17
- How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
- 28 days
- Wis. Stat. §704.19(3)
- Only a court order can remove youWis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09(7)
- Protection from retaliationWis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.09(5)
Help
Where to ask for help with rent in Wisconsin
Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.
-
26 counseling agencies
HUD-approved; 14 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies
Tool
How much rent can you afford?
Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.
Frequently asked questions
Which county in Wisconsin is the most expensive to rent in?
By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is St. Croix County ($1,734, about $33.35 an hour) and the cheapest Juneau County ($1,014, about $19.50 an hour).
How many households in Wisconsin spend too much on rent?
44% of renter households in Wisconsin spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 21% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.
What is fair market rent?
A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In Wisconsin, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $1,014 to $1,734 depending on the county.
Where do I ask for help paying rent in Wisconsin?
115 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Wisconsin; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.