The Milwaukee metro area: Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties · Population 1,568,938 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Milwaukee area
Household size in the Milwaukee area
| Period | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.51 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.45 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in the Milwaukee area run small, averaging 2.45 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.51, as it has nationally. The Milwaukee area has smaller households than the great majority of large metro areas.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Milwaukee area
| Period | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.8 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.7 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.6 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 39.8, the median age in the Milwaukee area is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in Wisconsin overall, where the median age is 41.4. The median age has climbed from 37.8 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Milwaukee area
| Period | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in the Milwaukee area (12.2%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Wisconsin overall (9.8%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.8 points, as it has nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Milwaukee area
Renters in the Milwaukee area
| Period | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.2% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.1% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.9% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.6% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in the Milwaukee area than nationally: 39.6% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. More than a third of owners (36.4%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the northwest. The renter share is up 2.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Milwaukee area
| Period | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in the Milwaukee area: 7.2% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Milwaukee area
| Period | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The Milwaukee area is a place of older homes: half were built before 1968, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1964 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the east.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Milwaukee area
| Period | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $849 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $928 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,022 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,290 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$441 | +$380 | +$606 |
Rent in the Milwaukee area runs $1,290 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in Wisconsin overall ($1,139). Rent has climbed $441 a month since 2006–10, up 52%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.9% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Milwaukee area
Bachelor's degrees in the Milwaukee area
| Period | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.0% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.9% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.4% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.2% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in the Milwaukee area than nationally: 39.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.1 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Milwaukee area
| Period | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.5% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.5% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.0% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.2% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Milwaukee area is a bit above the national rate: 92.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The figure for Wisconsin is much the same. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.7 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Milwaukee area
| Period | Milwaukee area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in the Milwaukee area than nationally: unemployment was 4.0%, against 5.4%. Still, the rate is higher than in Wisconsin overall (3.3%). Unemployment is down 3.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Milwaukee area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee area (all) | 2.45 | 39.8 | 12.2% | 39.6% | 7.2% | 1968 | $1,290 | 39.2% | 92.2% | 4.0% |
| Waukesha | 2.40 | 40.7 | 9.8% | 35.6% | 4.0% | 1977 | $1,330 | 42.6% | 96.3% | 2.5% |
| West Allis | 2.13 | 40.6 | 12.7% | 44.7% | 7.7% | 1956 | $1,004 | 29.7% | 92.3% | 4.0% |
| Wauwatosa | 2.21 | 39.5 | 7.9% | 39.3% | 5.7% | 1957 | $1,451 | 63.7% | 98.2% | 2.2% |
| Brookfield | 2.50 | 45.9 | 5.0% | 21.4% | 4.4% | 1975 | $1,947 | 62.7% | 98.0% | 2.7% |
| West Bend | 2.34 | 44.3 | 9.1% | 28.2% | 6.3% | 1977 | $1,230 | 30.9% | 95.4% | 2.8% |
| New Berlin | 2.43 | 45.9 | 6.4% | 23.5% | 4.7% | 1979 | $1,468 | 47.9% | 97.6% | 2.1% |
| Menomonee Falls | 2.47 | 42.9 | 6.1% | 26.0% | 6.8% | 1983 | $1,539 | 48.5% | 95.5% | 2.0% |
| Greenfield | 2.18 | 42.5 | 8.1% | 45.5% | 4.6% | 1974 | $1,213 | 33.8% | 94.2% | 2.4% |
| Franklin | 2.54 | 43.7 | 7.2% | 22.6% | 3.9% | 1988 | $1,426 | 44.8% | 95.2% | 3.4% |
| Oak Creek | 2.44 | 39.7 | 6.6% | 42.5% | 3.8% | 1990 | $1,454 | 40.2% | 95.0% | 1.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Richmond area · Memphis area · Louisville area · Raleigh area · Oklahoma City area · Jacksonville area · Providence area · Virginia Beach area · San Jose area · Nashville area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Milwaukee area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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