States › Wisconsin › DeForest

Is DeForest, WI expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 16 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,56511% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$114,773about $9,564/month · 32% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$359,6008% higher than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 54% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.1 years of household income. Most homes (77.9%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $62,600 a year. That is $30 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Wisconsin cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Wisconsin. It is number 111 of 156 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

DeForest
$1,565
Platteville
$877
Oregon
$1,287
Holmen
$1,367
Little Chute
$1,729
Richfield
$1,535
Two Rivers
$1,157

How much do households earn in DeForest?

Under $25k
6.0%
$25k–50k
13.5%
$50k–100k
40.4%
$100k–150k
27.5%
$150k+
12.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 40.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in DeForest

SizeDeForestU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,555$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,392$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,622$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is DeForest overall?

Everyday prices in Wisconsin overall are 6% below the U.S. average (index 94.1, U.S. = 100).

Housing
79
Goods (food, clothes…)
94
Utilities
90
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for DeForest, so the Wisconsin figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in DeForest

🏛️ Property tax$5,747a year · 1.60% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$109a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in DeForest

Commute to work26.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree41.7%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home77.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line5.7%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.4%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in DeForest?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $930 a month less.

Renting
$1,565
Owning
$2,495

Owning assumes a typical $359,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $35,960 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in DeForest, WI?

Renting in DeForest costs a median of about $1,565 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Wisconsin median is $1,305.

How much do I need to make to live in DeForest?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $62,600 a year, or $30 an hour at a full-time job.

Is DeForest cheap or expensive?

DeForest is rated Cheap: rent takes 16.4% of the typical household income of $114,773. It ranks 111th cheapest of 156 Wisconsin cities we track.

How much are property taxes in DeForest?

The median homeowner in DeForest pays $5,747 a year in property taxes, about 1.60% of the median home value.

Is DeForest more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Wisconsin are 6% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in DeForest?

The median home value in DeForest is $359,600, about 3.1 times the typical yearly household income.

11,501 people live in DeForest. Numbers are typical (middle) values.