States › Wisconsin › Waupaca

Is Waupaca, WI expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 17 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$82553% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$56,866about $4,739/month · 35% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$175,60047% lower than U.S. average

Rent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.1 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $33,000 a year. That is $16 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Wisconsin cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Wisconsin. It is number 6 of 156 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Waupaca
$825
Slinger
$1,130
Twin Lakes
$962
Elm Grove
$2,488
Lake Mills
$1,337
Edgerton
$1,055
Fox Point
$1,909

How much do households earn in Waupaca?

Under $25k
24.8%
$25k–50k
25.8%
$50k–100k
33.0%
$100k–150k
10.3%
$150k+
4.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 14.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Waupaca

SizeWaupacaU.S. average
1 bedroom$708$1,324
2 bedrooms$817$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,236$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,193$2,098

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

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

Taxes and bills in Waupaca

🏛️ Property tax$2,812a year · 1.60% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$106a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Waupaca

Commute to work27.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree23.9%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home61.3%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line11.5%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Waupaca?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $393 a month less.

Renting
$825
Owning
$1,218

Owning assumes a typical $175,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $17,560 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Waupaca, WI?

Renting in Waupaca costs a median of about $825 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Wisconsin median is $1,305.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $33,000 a year, or $16 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Waupaca cheap or expensive?

Waupaca is rated Cheap: rent takes 17.4% of the typical household income of $56,866. It ranks 6th cheapest of 156 Wisconsin cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Waupaca?

The median homeowner in Waupaca pays $2,812 a year in property taxes, about 1.60% of the median home value.

Is Waupaca 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 Waupaca?

The median home value in Waupaca is $175,600, about 3.1 times the typical yearly household income.

6,283 people live in Waupaca. Numbers are typical (middle) values.