The Town FilesWaukesha, Wisconsin
City in Waukesha County · population 71,158 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $315,500
- Household income
- $83,837
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 36.7
Waukesha is a city of 71,158 people in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $315,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 98% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 97% of Wisconsin towns.
How Waukesha ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waukesha is worth $315,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $83,837, which is more affordable than 19% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,219 a month. 58.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waukesha | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $315,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,219 | $951 |
| Median household income | $83,837 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 58.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Waukesha
| People | Waukesha | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Waukesha
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 36.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waukesha since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 27, 1984 about 2.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 17 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 7, 2008.
Severe weather in Waukesha County since 1996
Waukesha County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 11, 2025 | Flood | DR-4892: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Waukesha County
Waukesha County had 247,891 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,989 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Waukesha itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Waukesha
23 public schools with 8,792 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North High | 9-12 | 960 | 15.7 |
| South High | 9-12 | 879 | 11.9 |
| Butler Middle | 6-8 | 803 | 13.2 |
| Waukesha STEM Academy (charter) | PK-8 | 599 | 14.3 |
| Les Paul Middle | 6-8 | 594 | 12.9 |
| Horning Middle | 6-8 | 560 | 11.4 |
| Banting Elementary | PK-5 | 533 | 14.0 |
| Summit View Elementary | PK-5 | 450 | 14.5 |
| Bethesda Elementary | PK-5 | 415 | 13.8 |
| Lowell Elementary | PK-5 | 364 | 11.4 |
| Heyer Elementary | PK-5 | 345 | 11.9 |
| Hadfield Elementary | PK-5 | 331 | 7.9 |
Towns near Waukesha
- Pewaukee, WI3.9 mi · 15,914 people · home $447,100
- Brookfield, WI4.2 mi · 6,477 people · home $374,500
- Pewaukee, WI5.4 mi · 8,238 people · home $281,800
- Delafield, WI5.9 mi · 8,095 people · home $613,300
- Wales, WI6.3 mi · 2,862 people · home $399,400
- New Berlin, WI6.4 mi · 40,451 people · home $365,700
- Genesee, WI6.5 mi · 7,171 people · home $437,500
- Brookfield, WI7.5 mi · 41,464 people · home $443,900
Waukesha questions
Is Waukesha, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waukesha scores better for retirees than 18% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 2%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Waukesha?
The median owner-occupied home in Waukesha is valued at $315,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,837, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,219 a month.
What is the weather like in Waukesha?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.0 inches of precipitation a year and 36.9 inches of snow.
Does Waukesha get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waukesha since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 27, 1984. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)