Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Waukesha, Wisconsin
A $287,000 home here costs
$2,453per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $105,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,577. The real number is $876 higher every month, 56% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Waukesha County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Waukesha against Waukesha County and Wisconsin
| Measure | Waukesha | Waukesha County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $286,600 | $373,600 |
| Median property tax | $4,424 | $4,525 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.544% | 1.211% |
| Median gross rent | $1,183 | $1,300 |
| Population | 70,779 | 409,040 |
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 $125 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
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Waukesha averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Waukesha every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Waukesha I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Waukesha?
A $287,000 home in Waukesha, Wisconsin costs approximately $2,453 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $1,577 principal and interest, $369 property tax, $74 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $239 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Waukesha?
Waukesha has an effective property tax rate of 1.544%, based on a median home value of $286,600 and median real estate taxes of $4,424. That is higher 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 $286,600, against $373,600 across Waukesha County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Waukesha?
Median gross rent in Waukesha is $1,183 a month, against $2,453 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Waukesha?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Waukesha, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $105,000 a year. That covers the full $2,453 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
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.