Department of Numbers

Waukesha County Wisconsin Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Waukesha County WI was $1,071 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Waukesha County was $1,083 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Waukesha County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Waukesha County rental vacancy rates, Waukesha County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Waukesha County.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Waukesha County Wisconsin (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Wisconsin Median Gross Rent $867 +0.58% +3.21%
Waukesha County WI Median Gross Rent $1,071 +2.19% +4.79%

Waukesha County WI Real Gross Rent Trends

At $1,071, real median gross rent in Waukesha County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Waukesha County peaked in real terms in 2008 at $1,109 and is now $26 (2.34%) lower. From a recent low of 974.0 in 2012, real average gross rent has now increased by $109 (11.19%).

Real Gross Rent: Waukesha County WI Median, Waukesha County WI Average, Wisconsin Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Waukesha County

Date US
Median
Wisconsin
Median
Waukesha County WI
Median
Waukesha County WI
Average
2019 $1,097 $867 $1,071 $1,083
2018 $1,077 $862 $1,048 $1,101
2017 $1,043 $844 $1,037 $1,090
2016 $1,027 $840 $1,022 $1,048
2015 $1,017 $840 $1,028 $1,067
2014 $986 $826 $989 $1,045
2013 $953 $798 $937 $978
2012 $940 $790 $938 $974
2011 $941 $798 $1,002 $1,007
2010 $955 $799 $974 $1,084
2009 $960 $807 $948 $978

more history ...

Waukesha County Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Waukesha County Wisconsin was 4.28% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Waukesha County Wisconsin

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Wisconsin 4.93% -0.46% +0.08%
Waukesha County WI 4.28% -0.67% +1.53%

Trends in Waukesha County WI Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Waukesha County peaked in 2006 at 8.08%. Since then it has fallen by 3.80% to 4.28%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2009 post peak low of 1.94%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.34%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Waukesha County WI, Wisconsin, US

Rental vacancy rate in Wisconsin

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Waukesha County

Date US Wisconsin Waukesha County WI
2019 5.97% 4.93% 4.28%
2018 6.15% 5.39% 4.95%
2017 6.18% 5.20% 4.68%
2016 5.89% 4.85% 2.75%
2015 5.85% 4.67% 2.50%
2014 6.32% 4.64% 3.77%
2013 6.49% 5.22% 3.84%
2012 6.77% 5.48% 4.14%
2011 7.40% 5.17% 4.47%
2010 8.17% 6.16% 6.54%
2009 8.43% 5.86% 1.94%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Waukesha County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Waukesha County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 14.19% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Waukesha County Wisconsin Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Wisconsin 16.21% -0.51% -0.73%
Waukesha County WI 14.19% -0.00% -0.11%

Trends in Waukesha County WI Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Waukesha County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 15.35%. Since then it has fallen by 1.15% to 14.19%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Waukesha County WI, Wisconsin, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Waukesha County Wisconsin

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Waukesha County Wisconsin

Date US Wisconsin Waukesha County WI
2019 20.03% 16.21% 14.19%
2018 20.50% 16.72% 14.20%
2017 20.13% 16.57% 14.68%
2016 20.43% 16.94% 14.30%
2015 20.63% 17.08% 14.95%
2014 20.89% 17.83% 14.78%
2013 20.78% 17.67% 14.17%
2012 20.65% 17.46% 14.63%
2011 20.70% 17.60% 15.35%
2010 20.50% 17.51% 14.78%
2009 20.12% 16.99% 13.74%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Waukesha County Wisconsin

You can calculate the renter fraction in Waukesha County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Waukesha County as a fraction of total Waukesha County households. In 2019 24.28% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Waukesha County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Wisconsin 32.80% -0.06% -0.54%
Waukesha County WI 24.28% +1.99% +0.38%

Trends in the Waukesha County WI Renter Fraction

The Waukesha County household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 25.24% and is now 0.96% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Waukesha County WI, Wisconsin, US

Fraction of renters in Waukesha County

History of Waukesha County Renter Fraction

Date US Wisconsin Waukesha County WI
2019 35.89% 32.80% 24.28%
2018 36.05% 32.86% 22.29%
2017 36.13% 33.39% 24.69%
2016 36.88% 33.34% 23.90%
2015 36.97% 33.21% 25.24%
2014 36.90% 33.40% 23.55%
2013 36.50% 32.82% 22.82%
2012 36.09% 32.71% 24.69%
2011 35.42% 32.15% 24.62%
2010 34.65% 31.30% 22.09%
2009 34.13% 31.02% 22.60%

more history ...

1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability.

2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series.

3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied.