Living in Wauwatosa, WI
Suburb in Wisconsin
Wauwatosa is a suburb in Wisconsin, home to about 48,000 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 a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Wauwatosa a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 11 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Mild summers: highs around 81°F
- Highly educated: 62% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2 research universities are within 31 mi
- Safe: violent crime is 0.3× the US rate (FBI 2019)
👎 Cons
- Cloudier than most places
- Higher taxes: about $1,734 state income tax per resident, 1.91% property tax
- Few dog parks: 13 within 9 mi
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Wauwatosa ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Wauwatosa: common questions
What is the cost of living in Wauwatosa?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $405k, 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 Wauwatosa?
Wisconsin collects about $1,734 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.91% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Wauwatosa safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.3× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Wauwatosa?
Wauwatosa has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 33°F and summer days around 81°F, with roughly 40″ of snow a year.
Does Wauwatosa get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from cold waves and flooding: 8 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.75 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Wauwatosa?
The nearest major airport is MKE, about 11 mi away.
How Wauwatosa scores
Each bar compares Wauwatosa 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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Is Wauwatosa right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.