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City · 48,529 residents · Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Wauwatosa , Wisconsin

In Wauwatosa, a typical home is worth $339,000 and typical rent is $1,438 a month. Compared with all of Milwaukee County, typical household income is 57% higher, the typical home value is 47% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 11 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $339,000

    47% above the county

    27% above Wisconsin

    • Wauwatosa
    • Milwaukee
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical rent

    $1,438a month

    31% above the county

    32% above Wisconsin

    • Wauwatosa
    • Milwaukee
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical household income

    $101,138a year

    57% above the county

    31% above Wisconsin

    • Wauwatosa
    • Milwaukee
    • Wisconsin

  • Households that own their home

    61%

    11 points above the county

    7 points below Wisconsin

    • Wauwatosa
    • Milwaukee
    • Wisconsin

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$420,422
4.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,680 a month
4.4% more than 12 months ago

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

Wauwatosa is in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Wauwatosa apart

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

  1. The typical household income in Wauwatosa is $101,138, 57% more than in Milwaukee County as a whole ($64,435).

  2. Nearby, in Milwaukee, the typical home value is $184,000: 46% less than in Wauwatosa ($339,000).

  3. The typical home in Wauwatosa is worth $339,000, 47% more than in Milwaukee County as a whole ($230,700).

  4. Nearby, in West Allis, the typical rent is $1,007: 30% less than in Wauwatosa ($1,438).

  5. The typical rent in Wauwatosa is $1,438 a month, 31% more than in Milwaukee County as a whole ($1,101).

  6. 61% of households in Wauwatosa own their home, against 50% in Milwaukee County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Wauwatosa

What homes there are in Wauwatosa, 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

In Wauwatosa, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Milwaukee County, 5.

Year built

By age, homes in Wauwatosa look like those in Milwaukee County: the typical year built is 1954.

Homes in Wauwatosa are bigger: 56% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Milwaukee County, 48%.

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

By price, most homes in Wauwatosa sit under the FHA limit for Milwaukee County ($541,287): about 87%.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,071 a month

Milwaukee County: $1,688 a month

Without a mortgage

$833 a month

Milwaukee County: $738 a month

Owners with a mortgage

67%

Milwaukee County: 65%

Owning costs more in Wauwatosa: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $2,071 a month; in Milwaukee County, $1,688. Without one, $833.

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

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Wauwatosa rose 40%; in Milwaukee County, it rose 46%.

The typical rent in Wauwatosa rose 29% over the same time; in Milwaukee County, it rose 25%.

Housing prices ran ahead of income in Wauwatosa: typical income rose 23%, against +40% for home values and +29% for rent.

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

MeasureWauwatosaMilwaukee CountyWisconsinUnited States
Rental vacancy 5.3%6.1%4.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.5%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.5%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.152.312.332.53
Drive alone 67%69%74%69%
Carpool 6%9%7%9%
Public transit 1%3%1%3%
Walk or bike 3%4%3%3%
Work from home 22%14%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Milwaukee County, the rental vacancy rate in Wauwatosa is 5.3%.

Households in Wauwatosa are smaller: 2.15 people on average; in Milwaukee County, 2.31.

Many people here do not commute at all: 22% work from home; in Milwaukee County, 14%.

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 Wauwatosa?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Wauwatosa, worth $339,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 36% of the typical household income in Wauwatosa, which is $101,138 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $130,306 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Wauwatosa. 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 $11,865 (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

$3,041

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$332,860
Total interest
$478,907
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,725 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,360 a month

  • Tight

    $2,360 to $3,034 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,034 a month

    Your payment · 36%

Compared with the typical household income in Wauwatosa ($101,138 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,041
Principal & interest$2,255
Property tax$494
Home insurance$141
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$150

You need at least $11,865 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

Wauwatosa and Milwaukee County

Wauwatosa is in Milwaukee 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).

Wauwatosa's own numbers

Typical home value
$339,000
Typical monthly rent
$1,438
Typical yearly household income
$101,138
Households that own their home
61%
Effective property tax rate
1.75%

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

Numbers for all of Milwaukee County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,263
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+56%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.3%

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 Milwaukee County.

Everything about Milwaukee County

Buying

Buying a home in Wauwatosa

A typical home in Wauwatosa is worth $339,000: 47% above the county and 27% above Wisconsin. With the typical household income in Wauwatosa ($101,138 a year), a typical home costs 3.4 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.

  • Wauwatosa 3.4 years
  • Milwaukee 3.6 years
  • Wisconsin 3.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Milwaukee County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Milwaukee County rose 96% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Wisconsin U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.8% +5.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +56% +57% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +96% +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

Wauwatosa next to Milwaukee 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
  • Wauwatosa $339,000
  • Milwaukee $230,700
  • Wisconsin $266,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Wauwatosa $1,438
  • Milwaukee $1,101
  • Wisconsin $1,087
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Wauwatosa $101,138
  • Milwaukee $64,435
  • Wisconsin $77,485
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Wauwatosa next to Milwaukee County and Wisconsin
Measure Wauwatosa Milwaukee County Wisconsin U.S.
Typical home value $339,000 $230,700 $266,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,438 $1,101 $1,087 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $101,138 $64,435 $77,485 $80,734
Households that own their home 61% 50% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $5,922 $4,444 $3,792 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.75% 1.93% 1.42% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 43% 48% 44% 51%

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

For a typical $339,000 home in Wauwatosa, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Wauwatosa's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,040a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $11,865
    Cash to close
    $22,035
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $150

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,978a month

    Down payment
    $16,950
    Cash to close
    $27,120
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $161

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,473a month

    Down payment
    $67,800
    Cash to close
    $77,970
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,786a month

    Down payment
    $50,850
    Cash to close
    $61,020
    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 Wauwatosa and for Milwaukee County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Wauwatosa

1.75%of the home’s value each year

$5,922 a year for the typical owner in Wauwatosa.

  • Wauwatosa 1.75%
  • Milwaukee 1.93%
  • 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 Milwaukee County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.3%
519
Of those, with NFIP insurance
76%
County Wisconsin U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.3% 1.4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 76% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Wauwatosa

Typical rent in Wauwatosa is $1,438 a month: 31% above the county. In Wauwatosa, 43% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Milwaukee County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,263 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.29 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Milwaukee 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 $985 $18.94 $39,400
1 bedroom $1,060 $20.38 $42,400
2 bedrooms $1,263 $24.29 $50,520
3 bedrooms $1,553 $29.87 $62,120
4 bedrooms $1,664 $32.00 $66,560

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 Wauwatosa

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Wauwatosa has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,210 in 53222 to $1,510 in 53226.

2 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Milwaukee County ($1,263).

  • 53213 $1,430$1,760
  • 53222 $1,210$1,490
  • 53226 $1,510$1,860

3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Wauwatosa 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 Wauwatosa

HUD lists 5 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Wauwatosa. These are the largest.

  • The Courtyard 12250 W North Ave, Wauwatosa 53226 162 low-income homes · For families (414) 271-5201
  • Tosa Glen 1330 Saint James Ct, Wauwatosa 53213 48 low-income homes · For older adults (262) 781-2080
  • Greek Orthodox Manor 9440 W Congress St, Wauwatosa 53225 34 low-income homes · For older adults (414) 362-7240
  • Cedar Glen Senior Housing 1661 Rivers Bnd, Wauwatosa 53226 80 homes, 14 low-income · 1 bd: 30 · 2 bd: 50 · In service since 2012
  • Center Street Apartments 7400 W Center St, Wauwatosa 53210 6 homes, 5 low-income · For people with disabilities (414) 325-3004

See all 330 buildings in Milwaukee County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Wauwatosa

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 are 5 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Milwaukee County; 4 say they serve in Spanish.

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

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Wauwatosa

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Wauwatosa or Milwaukee County. The ones below are statewide in Wisconsin: they work in Wauwatosa 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 Wauwatosa

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

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Milwaukee, WI

    11707 W North Ave, Wauwatosa · 1 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (414) 442-6222

  • Housing Resources, Incorporated

    7830 W Burleigh St, Milwaukee · 2 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 3 more
    (414) 461-6330

  • Operation Hope- Milwaukee Wi

    7500 W Good Hope Rd, Milwaukee · 6 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (414) 426-2239

Every agency in Milwaukee County All counseling agencies in Wisconsin

Help in Spanish near Wauwatosa

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 Wauwatosa

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

4 other authorities have an office in Milwaukee County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Milwaukee County

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

Everything about Milwaukee County Housing in Wisconsin
See 3 more cities in Milwaukee County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Milwaukee 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 Wauwatosa.

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

Questions

Housing questions about Wauwatosa

Short answers with the numbers for Wauwatosa and all of Milwaukee 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 Wauwatosa?

The typical home value in Wauwatosa is $339,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Milwaukee County it is $230,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Wauwatosa?

Typical rent in Wauwatosa is $1,438 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Milwaukee County is $1,263.

What is the FHA loan limit in Wauwatosa?

Wauwatosa uses the FHA limit for all of Milwaukee 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 Wauwatosa?

The typical homeowner in Wauwatosa pays $5,922 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.75% of the home’s value; in Milwaukee County, the rate is 1.93%.

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

There are 5 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Milwaukee County. 4 say they serve in Spanish. 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).