Wisconsin
Ranked #17 of 51 for housing affordability
Median Home Price
🏠$273K
3.65x income
Median Rent
🔑$1,071
29.0% rent-burdened
Median Income
💰$75K
Population: 5,895,908
Homeownership
🏡68.0%
4,861 experiencing homelessness
Housing Shortage
📉55,000
units needed
Building Permits (2024)
🔨23,826
Price-to-Income
📊3.65x
Severe Rent Burden
⚠️13.5%
paying >50% of income
Rent Burden Breakdown
vs. National Average
House Price Index (2000–2025)
FHFA All-Transactions HPI · Base = 100 (1980s)
HUD Fair Market Rents (FY2026)
Maximum rent HUD considers fair for Section 8 voucher holders
FMR ($1250) is above the state median rent ($1071) — vouchers cover typical rents.
Metros in Wisconsin
| Metro | Score | Home Price | Rent | Income | Rent Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 62 | $308K | $1,122 | $77K | 31.5% |
| Madison | 50 | $373K | $1,335 | $82K | 28.5% |
| Green Bay | 85 | $265K | $1,007 | $76K | 18.7% |
| Appleton | 87 | $275K | $1,087 | $84K | 12.9% |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | 86 | $253K | $1,038 | $74K | 18.4% |
| Eau Claire | 85 | $266K | $983 | $75K | 16.7% |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | 83 | $265K | $970 | $71K | 16.4% |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | 88 | $222K | $929 | $70K | 16.2% |
| Kenosha | 85 | $266K | $1,212 | $75K | 19.5% |
| Janesville-Beloit | 86 | $248K | $973 | $73K | 21.7% |
| Wausau | 91 | $216K | $977 | $74K | 14.5% |
| Sheboygan | 87 | $240K | $895 | $73K | 10.3% |
| Fond du Lac | 87 | $233K | $964 | $71K | 15.4% |
Market Trends
Homeownership Rate
68.0%
Rent-to-Income Ratio
17.0%
of gross income spent on rent
Total Households
2,495,539
Owner-Occupied
1,694,748
Renter-Occupied
800,791
Homelessness
Latest Count (2024)
5,049
1-Year Change
+3.9%
10-Year Trend (2015–2024)
-16.6%
6,057 → 5,049
Housing Policies
Construction Activity
Total Permits (2024)
23,826
1.7% of national total
Single-Family
12,879
54% of state permits
Multi-Family
10,947
46% of state permits
Mortgage Access
National HMDA data — mortgage denial rates by race/ethnicity
Denial Rates by Race
Top Denial Reasons
Housing Shortage
State Shortage
55,000
units needed
National Shortage
7,300,000
0.8% of national total
Affordable Units per 100 ELI Renters
35
nationally (NLIHC)
National Shortage by Unit Type
45%
Single-Family
18%
Small Multi (2-4)
22%
Medium Multi (5-49)
15%
Large Multi (50+)
Rent Burden Detail
Wisconsin burden rates with national demographic breakdown
Cost-Burdened Renters
29.0%
paying >30% of income
Severely Burdened
13.5%
paying >50% of income
Households >30% Burden
158,745
Households >35% Burden
49,338