Places › Wisconsin › Oshkosh

Living in Oshkosh, WI

Small city in Wisconsin

Oshkosh is a small city in Wisconsin, home to about 66,000 people, with 415,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Oshkosh a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $261k and rents for $1,540 a month
  • Mild summers: highs around 80°F
  • Strong healthcare: 6 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Safe: violent crime is 0.7× the US rate (FBI 2019)

👎 Cons

  • Fewer graduates: 27% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Smaller job market: about 415,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Cloudier than most places
  • Higher taxes: about $1,734 state income tax per resident, 1.95% property tax

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

Key facts

Population
66,000
415,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
29°F / 80°F
Average daily highs · 39″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$261k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,540/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
93
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,734
State income tax per resident · 1.95% property tax
Safety
0.7× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
5 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, cold waves
Top-rated hospitals
6
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
27%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
MKE
81 mi away

Living in Oshkosh: common questions

What is the cost of living in Oshkosh?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $261k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,540 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 93, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Oshkosh?

Wisconsin collects about $1,734 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.95% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Oshkosh safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.7× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Oshkosh?

Oshkosh has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 29°F and summer days around 80°F, with roughly 39″ of snow a year.

Does Oshkosh get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, cold waves and tornadoes: 5 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.05 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Oshkosh?

The nearest major airport is MKE, about 81 mi away.

How Oshkosh scores

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

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Is Oshkosh 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.