Wisconsin Rent Affordability
Median rent $1,106/mo. 30% rule needs $44,240/yr income. Rent = 17% of Wisconsin median household income.
Max affordable rent by income
| Gross income | Max rent (30%) | Max rent (25% conservative) | vs Wisconsin median |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $750/mo | $625/mo | 68% of median |
| $40,000 | $1000/mo | $833/mo | 90% of median |
| $50,000 | $1250/mo | $1042/mo | 1.13× median |
| $60,000 | $1500/mo | $1250/mo | 1.36× median |
| $75,000 | $1875/mo | $1563/mo | 1.70× median |
| $100,000 | $2500/mo | $2083/mo | 2.26× median |
| $125,000 | $3125/mo | $2604/mo | 2.83× median |
| $150,000 | $3750/mo | $3125/mo | 3.39× median |
| $200,000 | $5000/mo | $4167/mo | 4.52× median |
Rent vs buy break-even in Wisconsin
The annual rent-to-home-price ratio of 5.2% is above 5%, often favoring buying over renting in Wisconsin. Rent is high enough that mortgage payments on the median home may be comparable. Run a full break-even with current rates, property tax, and HOA.
Price-to-rent ratio is a heuristic. Full break-even depends on mortgage rate, property tax, maintenance, HOA, transaction costs, and the buyer's expected hold period.
Rent in neighboring states
How Wisconsin rent compares to contiguous neighbors. Relocation, remote-work geography, or commute-belt decisions.
| State | Median rent | % of state HH median | Median home | vs WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin (current) | $1,106 | 17% | $252,900 | — |
| Iowa | $1,011 | 17% | $181,600 | -$95 |
| Michigan | $1,119 | 19% | $217,700 | +$13 |
| Illinois | $1,244 | 18% | $250,400 | +$138 |
| Minnesota | $1,245 | 17% | $304,700 | +$139 |
Other states
Common questions
- What is the median rent in Wisconsin?
- Wisconsin statewide median gross monthly rent is $1,106 (Census ACS 2023 B25064). Metro areas typically run 20-50% above the state median; rural areas 10-25% below. Numbers reflect all renters and bedroom counts combined.
- How much income do I need to afford the median rent in Wisconsin?
- Using the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income), you need about $44,240/year. The 25% conservative rule pushes that to $53,088/year. Wisconsin median household income is $76,058 — rent eats 17% of typical earners' income.
- Is renting or buying a better deal in Wisconsin?
- Rule of thumb: if annual rent < 5% of home price, renting wins. Wisconsin ratio: annual rent $13,272 / median home $252,900 = 5.2%. Buying may be favored (rents are high relative to home prices). Full break-even depends on time horizon, mortgage rate, property tax, and HOA.
- Why is rent so much higher in some Wisconsin metros than the statewide median?
- State median averages across rural and urban renters. A high-cost metro (LA, NYC, SF, Boston, Seattle, DC) drives metro rent 30-60% above the state number. Use the statewide median for relocation comparison, but expect to pay above-median in any large city.
Full data sources and formulas: /sources.
Estimate only — not financial advice. The 30% rule is a guideline, not a rule. State median hides large city-level variation. Calculate take-home pay in Wisconsin →
Sources
Last reviewed: · Beforeview Editorial · editorial policy