Best Life Index › States › Wisconsin › Cities › Waukesha

Wisconsin city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Waukesha?

What it costs to live in Waukesha, and how it compares with other Wisconsin cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

43

41st best value in Wisconsin

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Wisconsin cities.

Overall livability

49

32nd overall in Wisconsin

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Waukesha is home to about 71,307 people. A typical home runs $232,700 and a household earns around $71,700, a price-to-income ratio of 3.2. Among Wisconsin's largest cities, it ranks 41st for value and 32nd overall.

Waukesha at a glance

Median home price

$232,700

50th in WI of 57

Median rent

$1,032/mo

Median household income

$71,700

Home price to income

3.2x

Unemployment

2.5%

13th in WI of 57

School rating

6/10

24th in WI of 57

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in WI of 57

Walk score

7/100

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‹ See all top Wisconsin cities ranked  ยท  Wisconsin state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Wisconsin only. Updated 2026.