Ranked from ACS 2023 5-Year
Counties Where Renting Costs Far Less Than Owning in Wisconsin
The widest gaps between median rent and the full monthly cost of owning the median home. A large gap does not automatically mean renting is the better decision, because rent buys no equity and is not fixed for thirty years, but it does show where the market prices ownership at a steep premium.
Wisconsin ranked
| # | County | Monthly saved by renting | Median rent | Monthly to own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ozaukee County | $1,837 | $1,112 | $2,949 |
| 2 | Dane County | $1,723 | $1,345 | $3,068 |
| 3 | Waukesha County | $1,670 | $1,300 | $2,970 |
| 4 | St. Croix County | $1,559 | $1,238 | $2,797 |
| 5 | Pierce County | $1,529 | $1,025 | $2,554 |
| 6 | Door County | $1,441 | $995 | $2,436 |
| 7 | Washington County | $1,414 | $1,126 | $2,540 |
| 8 | Vilas County | $1,302 | $810 | $2,112 |
| 9 | Columbia County | $1,247 | $926 | $2,173 |
| 10 | Walworth County | $1,205 | $1,090 | $2,295 |
| 11 | Green County | $1,187 | $851 | $2,038 |
| 12 | Iowa County | $1,167 | $941 | $2,108 |
| 13 | Jefferson County | $1,143 | $1,012 | $2,155 |
| 14 | Calumet County | $1,129 | $1,002 | $2,131 |
| 15 | Sawyer County | $1,102 | $683 | $1,785 |
| 16 | Brown County | $1,098 | $973 | $2,071 |
| 17 | Sauk County | $1,083 | $970 | $2,053 |
| 18 | Bayfield County | $1,071 | $789 | $1,860 |
| 19 | La Crosse County | $1,062 | $1,023 | $2,085 |
| 20 | Eau Claire County | $1,061 | $977 | $2,038 |
| 21 | Outagamie County | $1,061 | $998 | $2,059 |
| 22 | Racine County | $1,052 | $1,017 | $2,069 |
| 23 | Portage County | $1,052 | $903 | $1,955 |
| 24 | Polk County | $1,029 | $958 | $1,987 |
| 25 | Burnett County | $989 | $758 | $1,747 |
| 26 | Chippewa County | $986 | $963 | $1,949 |
| 27 | Dunn County | $980 | $942 | $1,922 |
| 28 | Oconto County | $979 | $796 | $1,775 |
| 29 | Sheboygan County | $976 | $889 | $1,865 |
| 30 | Oneida County | $964 | $868 | $1,832 |
| 31 | Vernon County | $959 | $826 | $1,785 |
| 32 | Kenosha County | $958 | $1,175 | $2,133 |
| 33 | Kewaunee County | $952 | $839 | $1,791 |
| 34 | Green Lake County | $937 | $806 | $1,743 |
| 35 | Dodge County | $915 | $963 | $1,878 |
| 36 | Marquette County | $910 | $800 | $1,710 |
| 37 | Winnebago County | $906 | $924 | $1,830 |
| 38 | Washburn County | $905 | $815 | $1,720 |
| 39 | Fond du Lac County | $890 | $926 | $1,816 |
| 40 | Trempealeau County | $883 | $887 | $1,770 |
| 41 | Milwaukee County | $881 | $1,069 | $1,950 |
| 42 | Buffalo County | $874 | $822 | $1,696 |
| 43 | Forest County | $865 | $585 | $1,450 |
| 44 | Rock County | $864 | $1,019 | $1,883 |
| 45 | Barron County | $842 | $859 | $1,701 |
| 46 | Waupaca County | $836 | $834 | $1,670 |
| 47 | Pepin County | $831 | $860 | $1,691 |
| 48 | Jackson County | $826 | $789 | $1,615 |
| 49 | Taylor County | $825 | $786 | $1,611 |
| 50 | Marathon County | $821 | $950 | $1,771 |
| 51 | Waushara County | $803 | $789 | $1,592 |
| 52 | Grant County | $800 | $812 | $1,612 |
| 53 | Richland County | $795 | $786 | $1,581 |
| 54 | Adams County | $788 | $789 | $1,577 |
| 55 | Shawano County | $781 | $777 | $1,558 |
| 56 | Lincoln County | $776 | $768 | $1,544 |
| 57 | Lafayette County | $775 | $835 | $1,610 |
| 58 | Monroe County | $772 | $920 | $1,692 |
| 59 | Ashland County | $754 | $665 | $1,419 |
| 60 | Manitowoc County | $747 | $777 | $1,524 |
| 61 | Crawford County | $747 | $809 | $1,556 |
| 62 | Douglas County | $726 | $903 | $1,629 |
| 63 | Iron County | $697 | $640 | $1,337 |
| 64 | Clark County | $664 | $786 | $1,450 |
| 65 | Wood County | $660 | $831 | $1,491 |
| 66 | Juneau County | $616 | $847 | $1,463 |
| 67 | Marinette County | $598 | $749 | $1,347 |
| 68 | Florence County | $598 | $871 | $1,469 |
| 69 | Langlade County | $554 | $737 | $1,291 |
| 70 | Rusk County | $505 | $816 | $1,321 |
| 71 | Price County | $504 | $801 | $1,305 |
| 72 | Menominee County | $484 | $624 | $1,108 |
Every figure is modelled on the county's own median home with 20% down at 7.03%. Property tax and electricity are county and state specific; homeowners insurance uses the NAIC average premium for that state, which ranges from 0.16% of home value in Hawaii to 1.16% in Oklahoma. Maintenance and water are national estimates. Full methodology.
Nationwide
Counties Where Renting Costs Far Less Than Owning across all 3,133 US counties · Every county in Wisconsin