Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Among the top 3% of US counties for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 15% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 39% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 34% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A+, better than 97% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B+, better than 84% of US counties
- top 4% for broadband access
- top 5% for airport distance
- bottom 8% for sunny days
Waukesha County is a county in Wisconsin with about 407,000 residents. It grades A+ for getting around and D for affordability. Standout strengths include broadband access, airport distance, and sales tax. It rates lower on monthly owner costs and sunny days.
Official websitewaukeshacounty.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
freez.
very cold
cool
comf.
warm
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cool
cold
v.cold
64%37%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.2 in1.7 in
humid 95%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$102k97th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$52kbetter than 17% of US counties
Home Value$353k92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 11% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 8% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.27%better than 23% of US counties
Income Tax7.60%better than 11% of US counties
Sales Tax5.70%better than 93% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden13.90%better than 11% of US counties
Unemployment2.6%better than 88% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)24°F19th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F25th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation36.2 in34th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall41.2 inbetter than 19% of US counties
Sunny Days184 daysbetter than 8% of US counties
Summer Humidity61°Fbetter than 70% of US counties
Comfortable Days98 daysbetter than 90% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk88.9better than 11% of US counties
Air Quality52 AQIbetter than 10% of US counties
School Quality49.0better than 37% of US counties
Violent Crime282/100kbetter than 84% of US counties
Property Crime692/100kbetter than 62% of US counties
Community
Population407,29095th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age43.367th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2038th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9938th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+2132nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)86.6%62nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.6%45th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)5.1%52nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.9%92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.8%35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time23 minbetter than 58% of US counties
Walkability8.4/20better than 88% of US counties
Airport Distance21 mibetter than 95% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access92.7%better than 96% of US counties
Amenities Nearby4.20better than 63% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 50% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Waukesha County an affordable place to live?
- Waukesha County is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $52k, better than 17% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Waukesha County?
- The median home value in Waukesha County is $353k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Waukesha County?
- Median household income in Waukesha County is $102k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Waukesha County?
- Median gross rent in Waukesha County is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Waukesha County safe?
- Waukesha County is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 282/100k (better than 84%). Property crime is 692/100k.
- What is the weather like in Waukesha County?
- Waukesha County averages 73°F in July and 24°F in January, with 36.2 in of annual precipitation and about 184 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Waukesha County?
- Public-school quality in Waukesha County is below average, scoring better than 37% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Waukesha County?
- The average one-way commute in Waukesha County is 23 min.
Other counties in Wisconsin
Explore Wisconsin
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)