salaryRent is higher than in 60% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.1 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 19.5 minutes. It is a highly educated city: 64% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $73,560 a year. That is $35 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 137 of 156 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Wauwatosa?
Share of households by yearly income. 37.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Wauwatosa
| Size | Wauwatosa | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,725 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,371 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,585 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,880 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,680 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Wauwatosa overall?
Everyday prices in Wisconsin overall are 6% below the U.S. average (index 94.1, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Wauwatosa, so the Wisconsin figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Wauwatosa
Life in Wauwatosa
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Wauwatosa?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $513 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $339,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $33,900 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Wauwatosa, WI?
Renting in Wauwatosa costs a median of about $1,839 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Wisconsin median is $1,305.
How much do I need to make to live in Wauwatosa?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $73,560 a year, or $35 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Wauwatosa cheap or expensive?
Wauwatosa is rated OK: rent takes 20.2% of the typical household income of $109,077. It ranks 137th cheapest of 156 Wisconsin cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Wauwatosa?
The median homeowner in Wauwatosa pays $5,922 a year in property taxes, about 1.75% of the median home value.
Is Wauwatosa 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 Wauwatosa?
The median home value in Wauwatosa is $339,000, about 3.1 times the typical yearly household income.
48,529 people live in Wauwatosa. Numbers are typical (middle) values.