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City · 6,283 residents · Waupaca County, Wisconsin

Waupaca , Wisconsin

In Waupaca, a typical home is worth $175,600 and typical rent is $783 a month. Compared with all of Waupaca County, typical household income is 28% lower, the typical home value is 17% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 14 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $175,600

    17% below the county

    34% below Wisconsin

    • Waupaca
    • County
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical rent

    $783a month

    8% below the county

    28% below Wisconsin

    • Waupaca
    • County
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical household income

    $52,727a year

    28% below the county

    32% below Wisconsin

    • Waupaca
    • County
    • Wisconsin

  • Households that own their home

    61%

    14 points below the county

    7 points below Wisconsin

    • Waupaca
    • County
    • Wisconsin

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$325,452
6.3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Waupaca is in Waupaca 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 Waupaca County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Waupaca apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Waupaca has the 7th lowest typical household income of the 156 cities in Wisconsin with more than 5,000 people ($52,727).

  2. Waupaca has the 7th lowest typical rent of the 154 cities in Wisconsin with more than 5,000 people ($783).

  3. 61% of households in Waupaca own their home, against 75% in Waupaca County.

  4. The typical home in Waupaca is worth $175,600, 17% less than in Waupaca County as a whole ($211,400).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Waupaca

What homes there are in Waupaca, 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 houses are the majority in Waupaca (58%), but less so than in Waupaca County (78%).

Year built

In Waupaca, half of the homes were built before 1976; in Waupaca County, before 1975.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,383 a month

Waupaca County: $1,449 a month

Without a mortgage

$539 a month

Waupaca County: $581 a month

Owners with a mortgage

63%

Waupaca County: 60%

Owning costs about the same in Waupaca as in Waupaca County: with a mortgage, $1,383 a month; without one, $539.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Waupaca gained value faster than in Waupaca County: 67% against 41%.

Rents in Waupaca rose at about the same pace as in Waupaca County: 21% since 2015–2019, against 22%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureWaupacaWaupaca CountyWisconsinUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.5%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.0%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.072.232.332.53
Drive alone 80%81%74%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate7%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate8%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.07 on average, against 2.23 in Waupaca County.

To get to work, 80% of workers in Waupaca drive alone; in Waupaca County, 81%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Waupaca?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Waupaca, worth $175,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 35% of the typical household income in Waupaca, which is $52,727 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $66,557 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Waupaca County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Waupaca. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,146 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,553

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$172,419
Total interest
$248,071
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,965 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,230 a month

  • Tight

    $1,230 to $1,582 a month

    Your payment · 35%

  • Hard

    more than $1,582 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Waupaca ($52,727 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,553
Principal & interest$1,168
Property tax$234
Home insurance$73
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$78

You need at least $6,146 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

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.

The city and its county

Waupaca and Waupaca County

Waupaca is in Waupaca 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).

Waupaca's own numbers

Typical home value
$175,600
Typical monthly rent
$783
Typical yearly household income
$52,727
Households that own their home
61%
Effective property tax rate
1.6%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Waupaca County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,014
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+69%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.8%

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 Waupaca County.

Everything about Waupaca County

Buying

Buying a home in Waupaca

A typical home in Waupaca is worth $175,600: 17% below the county and 34% below Wisconsin. With the typical household income in Waupaca ($52,727 a year), a typical home costs 3.3 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.

  • Waupaca 3.3 years
  • County 2.9 years
  • Wisconsin 3.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Waupaca County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Waupaca County rose 107% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Waupaca County.

Period County Wisconsin U.S.
Last year (2025) +8.6% +5.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +69% +57% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +107% +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

Waupaca next to Waupaca 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
  • Waupaca $175,600
  • County $211,400
  • Wisconsin $266,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Waupaca $783
  • County $852
  • Wisconsin $1,087
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Waupaca $52,727
  • County $72,830
  • Wisconsin $77,485
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Waupaca next to Waupaca County and Wisconsin
Measure Waupaca Waupaca County Wisconsin U.S.
Typical home value $175,600 $211,400 $266,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $783 $852 $1,087 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $52,727 $72,830 $77,485 $80,734
Households that own their home 61% 75% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,812 $2,924 $3,792 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.6% 1.38% 1.42% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 37% 46% 44% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Waupaca 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 Waupaca

For a typical $175,600 home in Waupaca, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Waupaca's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,553a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,146
    Cash to close
    $11,414
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $78

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,521a month

    Down payment
    $8,780
    Cash to close
    $14,048
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $83

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,259a month

    Down payment
    $35,120
    Cash to close
    $40,388
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,421a month

    Down payment
    $26,340
    Cash to close
    $31,608
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

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.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Waupaca and for Waupaca County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Waupaca

1.6%of the home’s value each year

$2,812 a year for the typical owner in Waupaca.

  • Waupaca 1.6%
  • County 1.38%
  • Wisconsin 1.42%

What Wisconsin publishes Lottery and Gaming Credit for your primary residence (Wisconsin Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Wisconsin

Flood risk in Waupaca County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Waupaca County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.8%
568
Of those, with NFIP insurance
23%
County Wisconsin U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.8% 1.4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 23% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Waupaca

Typical rent in Waupaca is $783 a month: 8% below the county. In Waupaca, 37% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Waupaca County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,014 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.50 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Waupaca County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $810 $15.58 $32,400
1 bedroom $815 $15.67 $32,600
2 bedrooms $1,014 $19.50 $40,560
3 bedrooms $1,328 $25.54 $53,120
4 bedrooms $1,333 $25.63 $53,320

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 Waupaca

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Waupaca is in ZIP code 54981.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,010: $4 less than the fair market rent for Waupaca County ($1,014).

  • 54981 $1,010$1,330

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Waupaca 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 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Waupaca

HUD lists 6 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Waupaca. These are the largest.

  • Ye Olde Firehouse Apts 222 N Main St, Waupaca 54981 30 low-income homes · For older adults (715) 258-8833
  • Pheasant Run Apts 314 S Western Ave, Waupaca 54981 24 low-income homes · 1 bd: 4 · 2 bd: 12 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 1997
  • Waupaca Senior Village 2834 Otter Dr, Waupaca 54981 22 homes, 18 low-income · 2 bd: 22 · In service since 2005
  • Countryside Estates 517 Wisconsin St, Waupaca 54981 16 low-income homes · For people with disabilities (414) 446-9144
  • Leroy Butler Townhomes 730 Leroy Butler Dr, Waupaca 54981 24 homes, 6 low-income · 2 bd: 8 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2012

See all 19 buildings in Waupaca County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Waupaca

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.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Waupaca County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Waupaca

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Waupaca or Waupaca County. The ones below are statewide in Wisconsin: they work in Waupaca the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Wisconsin

  • WHEDA Easy Close Advantage DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    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).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • WHEDA Capital Access DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    $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).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Waupaca

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Waupaca, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • CCCS of Sheboygan

    17 Forest Avenue, Suite 016, Fond Du Lac · 50 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (920) 907-4344

  • Catholic Charities Diocese of Green Bay

    1825 Riverside Dr, Green Bay · 52 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (920) 272-8234

  • Neighborworks Green Bay

    437 S Jackson St, Green Bay · 53 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (920) 448-3075

All counseling agencies in Wisconsin

Help in Spanish near Waupaca

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Waupaca

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Waupaca County is named for Waupaca or Waupaca County.

2 other authorities have an office in Waupaca County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Waupaca County

These cities are also in Waupaca County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Waupaca County Housing in Wisconsin

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Waupaca, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Waupaca County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Waupaca.

All guides
A family walks a boardwalk trail in the forest; one of them uses a wheelchair.

Questions

Housing questions about Waupaca

Short answers with the numbers for Waupaca and all of Waupaca 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 Waupaca?

The typical home value in Waupaca is $175,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Waupaca County it is $211,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Waupaca?

Typical rent in Waupaca is $783 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Waupaca County is $1,014.

What is the FHA loan limit in Waupaca?

Waupaca uses the FHA limit for all of Waupaca 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 Waupaca?

The typical homeowner in Waupaca pays $2,812 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.6% of the home’s value; in Waupaca County, the rate is 1.38%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Waupaca?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Waupaca County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).