Living in Waukesha, WI
Suburb in Wisconsin
Waukesha is a suburb in Wisconsin, home to about 71,000 people, with 1.7 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 mostly apartments.
Is Waukesha a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 12 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Safe: violent crime is 0.2× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Mild summers: highs around 80°F
- Low natural disaster risk: 5 federally declared disasters since 2000
👎 Cons
- Cloudier than most places
- Few dog parks: 1 within 9 mi
- Higher taxes: about $1,734 state income tax per resident, 1.54% property tax
- Fewer family amenities than most places
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Waukesha ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Waukesha: common questions
What is the cost of living in Waukesha?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $402k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,650 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 97, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Waukesha?
Wisconsin collects about $1,734 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.54% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Waukesha safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.2× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Waukesha?
Waukesha has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 31°F and summer days around 80°F, with roughly 37″ of snow a year.
Does Waukesha 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 0.97 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Waukesha?
The nearest major airport is MKE, about 18 mi away.
How Waukesha scores
Each bar compares Waukesha 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).
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Nearby
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Is Waukesha right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.