Wauwatosa vs West Bend
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin versus West Bend, Wisconsin: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Wauwatosa edges out West Bend on overall objective livability (50 vs 46 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Wauwatosa | West Bend |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $94k | $72k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $49k |
| Home Value | $292k | $224k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $973 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.99% | 1.55% |
| Income Tax | 7.60% | 7.60% |
| Sales Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.67% | 14.32% |
| Unemployment | 2.2% | 3.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 24°F | 21°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 71°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8 in | 35.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5 in | 54.3 in |
| Sunny Days | 184 days | 184 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 99 days | 91 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 14.9 | 45.6 |
| Air Quality | 53 AQI | 49 AQI |
| School Quality | 54.7 | 50.9 |
| Violent Crime | 409/100k | 664/100k |
| Property Crime | 2592/100k | 2150/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 47,919 | 31,682 |
| Median Age | 38.4 | 40.5 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.34 | 0.16 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.90 | 0.96 |
| Political Leaning | D+41 | R+39 |
| White (%) | 79.2% | 90.4% |
| Black (%) | 7.3% | 1.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 4.2% | 4.2% |
| Asian (%) | 4.6% | 0.8% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.8% | 3.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 24 min |
| Walkability | 14.0/20 | 9.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 11 mi | 35 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 88.4% | 90.5% |
| Amenities Nearby | 116.03 | 36.30 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Wauwatosa or West Bend more affordable?
- Wauwatosa has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Wauwatosa's $44k and West Bend's $49k. Median rent is $1k in Wauwatosa versus $973 in West Bend.
- Is Wauwatosa or West Bend safer?
- Wauwatosa has the lower violent crime rate. Wauwatosa reports 409/100k and West Bend reports 664/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Wauwatosa or West Bend?
- The median home value is $292k in Wauwatosa and $224k in West Bend, so homes are more affordable in West Bend.