Your life in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

What stands out

What stands out about Milwaukee County: homeownership is in the bottom 2% of American counties (49%), the property tax rate is in the top 3% of American counties (2.16%), and the overdose death rate is in the top 4% of American counties (45 per 100,000). Within Wisconsin it ranks 1st of 72 counties for homeownership, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. 933,063 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.2% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -8,408).

Wisconsin has a graduated income tax reaching 7.65%, does not tax Social Security, and exempts some retirement income for residents 65 and over. Property taxes are high, largely for schools and local services, with a state lottery credit offsetting part of the bill. Milwaukee and Madison drive most job growth; the northern half of the state is lakes, forests and second homes.

Money

The typical household here brings in $59,319 a year, lower than 54% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $69,142. Unemployment runs 3.7%, higher than 60% of American counties. 11% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 20 minutes each way.

Wisconsin takes 4.3% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,540 a year.

Home

The median home costs $293K, pricier than 68% of American counties, about 2.6 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,050 a month. Property tax is 2.16% of home value, roughly $4,313 a year on that median home, higher than 97% of American counties. 49% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.5 per 1,000 residents, lower than 72% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 45 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 75.1 years, shorter than 58% of American counties. There are 4,418 active physicians in the county, about 47.3 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.6 of 5 stars. 8.4% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.47 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 95% of American counties. 89% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 40 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 68% of eligible voters turned out. Under Wisconsin law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is legal with limits, and marijuana is illegal.

Weather and risk

The year averages 48°F, highs near 57 and lows near 39, colder than 81% of American counties. About 36 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 94 out of 100, riskier than 94% of American counties; the county has had 22 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 280 Mbps down, faster than 89% of American counties. There are 2 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.7 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 30 breweries, 25 museums.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Wisconsin tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.