Cost to Own
United StatesWisconsinWaukesha CountyWaukesha Population 8,479 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Waukesha, Wisconsin

A $376,000 home here costs

$2,899

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,933. The real number is $966 higher every month — 50% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Waukesha median: $375,700
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $300,800 borrowed $1,933
Property tax0.989% effective rate for Waukesha itself $310
Homeowners insuranceWisconsin averages $780/yr (NAIC), or 0.309% of home value $97
Electricity19.74¢/kWh — Wisconsin residential average, EIA $177
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $313
Total monthly $2,899

Waukesha against Waukesha County and Wisconsin

MeasureWaukeshaWaukesha County
Median home value$375,700$373,600
Median property tax$3,714$4,525
Effective tax rate0.989%1.211%
Median gross rent$1,167$1,300
Population8,479409,040

The weather behind that power bill

Waukesha sits in Waukesha County, which averages a high of 81.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 11.6°F in its coldest, with 35.95" of precipitation a year and 36% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 559 cooling and 7,247 heating degree days, which is what sets the $177 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Waukesha County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Waukesha County

Full Waukesha County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Waukesha?

A $376,000 home in Waukesha, Wisconsin costs approximately $2,899 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,933 principal and interest, $310 property tax, $97 homeowners insurance, $245 utilities and $313 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Waukesha?

Waukesha has an effective property tax rate of 0.989%, based on a median home value of $375,700 and median real estate taxes of $3,714. That is lower than the Waukesha County average of 1.211%.

What is the average home price in Waukesha?

The median owner-occupied home value in Waukesha, Wisconsin is $375,700, against $373,600 across Waukesha County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Waukesha?

Median gross rent in Waukesha is $1,167 a month, against $2,899 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Waukesha — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Wisconsin.
  • Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology