Places › Wisconsin › Kenosha

Living in Kenosha, WI

Small city in Wisconsin

Kenosha is a small city in Wisconsin, home to about 99,000 people, with 1.4 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Kenosha a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 9 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Mild summers: highs around 81°F
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $291k and rents for $1,900 a month
  • Safe: violent crime is 0.8× the US rate (FBI 2019)

👎 Cons

  • Cloudier than most places
  • Fewer graduates: 29% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Higher taxes: about $1,734 state income tax per resident, 1.82% property tax
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Kenosha ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
99,000
1.4 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
34°F / 81°F
Average daily highs · 36″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$291k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,900/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
101
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,734
State income tax per resident · 1.82% property tax
Safety
0.8× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
7 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly cold waves, flooding
Top-rated hospitals
9
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
29%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
MKE
25 mi away

Living in Kenosha: common questions

What is the cost of living in Kenosha?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $291k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,900 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 101, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Kenosha?

Wisconsin collects about $1,734 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.82% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Kenosha safe?

Violent crime is close to the national rate (0.8× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Kenosha?

Kenosha has cold winters: winter days average around 34°F and summer days around 81°F, with roughly 36″ of snow a year.

Does Kenosha get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from cold waves, flooding and tornadoes: 7 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.54 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Kenosha?

The nearest major airport is MKE, about 25 mi away.

How Kenosha scores

Each bar compares Kenosha with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Big city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature nearby Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Moderate pace Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Some community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Below average
💼Job market Good
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Poor
🧸Kids & family Average
🐕Dog-friendly Average
⛰️Outdoors Good
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Poor
🌤️Mild summers Excellent
✈️Airport Good

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Is Kenosha right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.