Milwaukee County Wisconsin Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Milwaukee County WI was $887 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Milwaukee County was $943 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Milwaukee County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Milwaukee County rental vacancy rates, Milwaukee County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Milwaukee County.
Real Gross Rent in Milwaukee County Wisconsin (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Wisconsin Median Gross Rent | $867 | +0.58% | +3.21% |
| Milwaukee County WI Median Gross Rent | $887 | +1.14% | +1.60% |
Milwaukee County WI Real Gross Rent Trends
At $887, real median gross rent in Milwaukee County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $943, real average gross rent in Milwaukee County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Milwaukee County WI Median, Milwaukee County WI Average, Wisconsin Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Milwaukee County
| Date | US Median |
Wisconsin Median |
Milwaukee County WI Median |
Milwaukee County WI Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $867 | $887 | $943 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $862 | $877 | $909 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $844 | $872 | $900 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $840 | $873 | $899 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $840 | $873 | $912 |
| 2014 | $986 | $826 | $861 | $886 |
| 2013 | $953 | $798 | $835 | $860 |
| 2012 | $940 | $790 | $818 | $851 |
| 2011 | $941 | $798 | $823 | $848 |
| 2010 | $955 | $799 | $836 | $857 |
| 2009 | $960 | $807 | $855 | $880 |
| 2007 | $927 | $791 | $832 | $860 |
| 2005 | $910 | $804 | $835 | $850 |
Milwaukee County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Milwaukee County Wisconsin was 6.22% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Milwaukee County Wisconsin
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Wisconsin | 4.93% | -0.46% | +0.08% |
| Milwaukee County WI | 6.22% | -0.29% | +0.51% |
Trends in Milwaukee County WI Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Milwaukee County peaked in 2007 at 7.13%. Since then it has fallen by 0.91% to 6.22%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2011 post peak low of 3.18%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 3.04%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Milwaukee County WI, Wisconsin, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Milwaukee County
| Date | US | Wisconsin | Milwaukee County WI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.93% | 6.22% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.39% | 6.51% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.20% | 6.84% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 4.85% | 5.71% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 4.67% | 4.38% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.64% | 3.76% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.22% | 4.34% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.48% | 3.94% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.17% | 3.18% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.16% | 4.24% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.86% | 4.49% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 6.83% | 7.13% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 6.49% | 5.93% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Milwaukee County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Milwaukee County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.93% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Milwaukee County Wisconsin Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Wisconsin | 16.21% | -0.51% | -0.73% |
| Milwaukee County WI | 19.93% | -0.89% | -1.10% |
Trends in Milwaukee County WI Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Milwaukee County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.90%. Since then it has fallen by 2.97% to 19.93%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Milwaukee County WI, Wisconsin, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Milwaukee County Wisconsin
| Date | US | Wisconsin | Milwaukee County WI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 16.21% | 19.93% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 16.72% | 20.82% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 16.57% | 21.33% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 16.94% | 21.02% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 17.08% | 21.54% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 17.83% | 22.90% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 17.67% | 22.68% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 17.46% | 21.77% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 17.60% | 22.47% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 17.51% | 22.16% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 16.99% | 21.44% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 15.97% | 19.86% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 16.38% | 21.20% |
Renter Fraction in Milwaukee County Wisconsin
You can calculate the renter fraction in Milwaukee County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Milwaukee County as a fraction of total Milwaukee County households. In 2019 50.60% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Milwaukee County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Wisconsin | 32.80% | -0.06% | -0.54% |
| Milwaukee County WI | 50.60% | -0.46% | +0.03% |
Trends in the Milwaukee County WI Renter Fraction
The Milwaukee County household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 51.75% and is now 1.15% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Milwaukee County WI, Wisconsin, US
History of Milwaukee County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Wisconsin | Milwaukee County WI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 32.80% | 50.60% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 32.86% | 51.06% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 33.39% | 50.99% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 33.34% | 50.57% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 33.21% | 51.75% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 33.40% | 51.06% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 32.82% | 50.05% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 32.71% | 50.41% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 32.15% | 49.57% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 31.30% | 47.51% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 31.02% | 47.39% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.92% | 44.56% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.88% | 44.58% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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