Places › Wisconsin › West Allis

Living in West Allis, WI

Suburb in Wisconsin

West Allis is a suburb in Wisconsin, home to about 60,000 people, with 1.8 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is West Allis a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 11 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $276k and rents for $1,650 a month
  • Mild summers: highs around 83°F
  • Easy flying: MKE is 8 mi away

👎 Cons

  • Cloudier than most places
  • Higher taxes: about $1,734 state income tax per resident, 2.04% property tax
  • Few dog parks: 15 within 9 mi
  • 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 West Allis ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
60,000
1.8 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
34°F / 83°F
Average daily highs · 52″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$276k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,650/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
97
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,734
State income tax per resident · 2.04% property tax
Safety
0.9× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
8 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly cold waves, flooding
Top-rated hospitals
11
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
29%
2 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
MKE
8 mi away

Living in West Allis: common questions

What is the cost of living in West Allis?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $276k, 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 West Allis?

Wisconsin collects about $1,734 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 2.04% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is West Allis safe?

Violent crime is close to the national rate (0.9× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in West Allis?

West Allis has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 34°F and summer days around 83°F, with roughly 52″ of snow a year.

Does West Allis get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from cold waves, flooding and tornadoes: 8 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.79 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to West Allis?

The nearest major airport is MKE, about 8 mi away.

How West Allis scores

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

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Is West Allis 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.