Waukesha County, WI at a glance
Median household income
$106,076$8,840 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Waukesha County, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Waukesha County, WI? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,027 | $12,324 | $41,080 | 11.6% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,119 | $13,428 | $44,760 | 12.7% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,338 | $16,056 | $53,520 | 15.1% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,648 | $19,776 | $65,920 | 18.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,784 | $21,408 | $71,360 | 20.2% |
Rent in Waukesha County, WI, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Waukesha County, WI
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $106,076 a year ($8,840 a month before tax).
What $106,076 leaves after Wisconsin taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Wisconsin tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Wisconsin
Living in Waukesha County, WI: common questions
What is the median household income in Waukesha County, WI?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Waukesha County, WI is $106,076 per year (approximately $8,840 per month).
What is the average rent in Waukesha County, WI?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,027 for a studio, $1,119 for one bedroom, $1,338 for two, $1,648 for three and $1,784 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Waukesha County, WI expensive to live in?
Prices there run 3.1% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 96.9, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Waukesha County, WI?
To keep a $1,338 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $53,520 a year, or $4,460 a month. That is 50% of what the typical household in Waukesha County, WI earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Waukesha County, WI?
On the local median income of $106,076 ($8,840 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $4,420 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,652 for everything else and $1,768 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,338 takes 30% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Waukesha County, WI?
Homes in Wisconsin paid 19.6¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $176. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.