States › Wisconsin › Jefferson

Is Jefferson, WI expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 20 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,40120% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$85,208about $7,101/month · 2% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$225,60032% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 63% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $56,040 a year. That is $27 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 91 of 156 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Jefferson
$1,401
Mount Horeb
$1,305
New London
$950
Ripon
$1,199
Hales Corners
$1,797
Ashland
$909
Vernon
$1,244

How much do households earn in Jefferson?

Under $25k
9.8%
$25k–50k
23.4%
$50k–100k
33.8%
$100k–150k
17.1%
$150k+
10.2%

Share of households by yearly income. 27.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Jefferson

SizeJeffersonU.S. average
Studio$784$1,338
1 bedroom$650$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,222$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,722$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,595$2,098

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

How expensive is Jefferson 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 Jefferson, so the Wisconsin figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Jefferson

🏛️ Property tax$4,177a year · 1.85% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$136a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Jefferson

Commute to work25.1 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree22.6%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home66.8%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line11.2%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.7%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Jefferson?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $164 a month less.

Renting
$1,401
Owning
$1,565

Owning assumes a typical $225,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $22,560 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Jefferson, WI?

Renting in Jefferson costs a median of about $1,401 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Wisconsin median is $1,305.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $56,040 a year, or $27 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Jefferson cheap or expensive?

Jefferson is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.7% of the typical household income of $85,208. It ranks 91st cheapest of 156 Wisconsin cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Jefferson?

The median homeowner in Jefferson pays $4,177 a year in property taxes, about 1.85% of the median home value.

Is Jefferson 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 Jefferson?

The median home value in Jefferson is $225,600, about 2.6 times the typical yearly household income.

7,732 people live in Jefferson. Numbers are typical (middle) values.