Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Among the top 1% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 23% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 44% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 40% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A+, better than 99% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 46% of US places
- top 2% for natural disaster risk
- top 3% for walkability
- bottom 2% for monthly owner costs
Wauwatosa is a mid-size city in Wisconsin with about 48,000 residents. It grades A+ for getting around and D for affordability. Standout strengths include natural disaster risk, walkability, and airport distance. It rates lower on air quality and monthly owner costs.
- The median home value in Wauwatosa is $292k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Wauwatosa is $94k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Wauwatosa is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Wauwatosa has a violent crime rate of 409/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Wauwatosa is 20 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
very cold
cool
comf.
warm
comf.
cool
cold
v.cold
63%36%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.0 in1.6 in
humid 97%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$94k82nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$44kbetter than 69% of US places
Home Value$292k77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 22% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$13kbetter than 2% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.99%better than 10% of US places
Income Tax7.60%better than 20% of US places
Sales Tax5.70%better than 93% of US places
Estimated total tax burden15.67%better than 15% of US places
Unemployment2.2%better than 66% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)24°F19th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)73°F31st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation33.8 in29th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall39.5 inbetter than 22% of US places
Sunny Days184 daysbetter than 12% of US places
Summer Humidity61°Fbetter than 65% of US places
Comfortable Days99 daysbetter than 86% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk14.9better than 98% of US places
Air Quality53 AQIbetter than 8% of US places
School Quality54.7better than 44% of US places
Violent Crime409/100kbetter than 70% of US places
Property Crime2592/100kbetter than 11% of US places
Community
Population47,91997th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age38.438th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3467th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9031st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+416th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)79.2%41st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)7.3%80th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)4.2%53rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)4.6%90th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.8%69th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time20 minbetter than 85% of US places
Walkability14.0/20better than 97% of US places
Airport Distance11 mibetter than 96% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access88.4%better than 58% of US places
Amenities Nearby116.03better than 58% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 32% of US places
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)
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Wauwatosa an affordable place to live?
- Wauwatosa is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $44k, better than 69% of comparable areas. Median rent is $1k.
- Is Wauwatosa safe?
- Wauwatosa is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 409/100k (better than 70%). Property crime is 2592/100k.
- What is the weather like in Wauwatosa?
- Wauwatosa averages 73°F in July and 24°F in January, with 33.8 in of annual precipitation and about 184 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Wauwatosa?
- Public-school quality in Wauwatosa is about average, scoring better than 44% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Wauwatosa?
- The average one-way commute in Wauwatosa is 20 min.