CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

43.09° N · 88.26° W · GEOID 5562250

Pewaukee

Waukesha County, Wisconsin · part of the Milwaukee, WI metro

WisconsinPewaukee, WIPewaukeePewaukee

The short answer

Pewaukee is home to 8,196 people. Median household income is $62,139 a year and median rent is $1,260 a month, 24.3% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $281,800, about 4.5x annual median household income.

The story in Pewaukee is how fast things are changing. Housing became less affordable between 2019 and 2024: rent went from 19.4% to 24.3% of income. Also notable: Money left after rent is $48,500, against $63,300 in its closest peers.

52OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Average

Pewaukee scores better than 52% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 149th of 158 in Wisconsin.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%28
Economy 20%57
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%56
Education 10%68
Commute 10%76
Growth 5%9

Not rated: safety, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,260
8% below the median place
Median household income
$62,139
23% below the median place
Median home value
$281,800
12% below the median place
Unemployment
3.0%
38% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

01

Moving to Pewaukee

Waukesha County gains about 4.2 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in17,875
Moved out16,269
Net+1,606

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Wisconsin, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within WisconsinOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$87K
Leavers$90K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Waukesha County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
5.6% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.4% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Waukesha County report $86,800 a year in income on average; those leaving, $90,300.
Income you would need
$50,400 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,260 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,742 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $281,800.
Getting to work
21 minutes each way on average; 17.9% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Brighton, MI matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
5.6%
2% below the median place
Income of households moving out7
$90,265
28% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people7
4.2
above the median place (median -0.6)
All 5 moving measures
MeasurePewaukeeAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year15.6%2% below
Moved from another state1County figure1.4%32% below
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure4.2above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$86,79023% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$90,26528% above
02

What it costs to live here

The median rent takes 24.3% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 80% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the highest of 158 Wisconsin places we track.

Pewaukee24.3%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$50,400
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
24.3%
19% above the median place
Home price to income
4.5x
19% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
24%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$48,400
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Pewaukee, $1,260 a month, and local prices for everything else (96.9 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Pewaukee, but easier on the budget

Places that match Pewaukee on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Brighton, MI9717.8% vs 24.3%$16,800Compare
Ashwaubenon, WI9516.6% vs 24.3%$11,500Compare
Baldwinsville, NY9418.7% vs 24.3%$15,100Compare
Willoughby, OH9319.7% vs 24.3%$10,600Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Pewaukee.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Pewaukee? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Property tax rate1
1.2%
31% above the median place
Median year built1
1985
0% above the median place
Homeownership1
61.4%
8% below the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasurePewaukeeAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,2608% below
Rent to income124.3%19% above
Property tax rate11.2%31% above
Home price to income14.5x19% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure96.94% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,26322% below
Property tax paid (median)1$3,3603% above
Median home value1$281,80012% below
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure5.4%68% above
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure52.2%1% above
Homeownership161.4%8% below
Renters paying 30%+150.9%1% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,7427% below
Vacant homes1County figure4.0%44% below
Median year built119850% above
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Unemployment1
3.0%
38% below the median place
Income per person1
$54,436
36% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Mean commute21 min −16%
Median household income$62,139 −23%
Works from home17.9% +44%
Poverty rate7.3% −32%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasurePewaukeeAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$62,13923% below
Income per person1$54,43636% above
Unemployment13.0%38% below
Average annual pay5County figure$71,7399% above
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure2.5%32% below
Jobs5County figure248,66265% above
Poverty rate17.3%32% below
Mean commute121 min16% below
Works from home117.9%44% above
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Households average 1.95 people, smaller than than in 96% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

Household size1
1.9
22% below the median place
No health insurance1
2.0%
69% below the median place
Born abroad1
2.8%
68% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Median age44.2 +13%
High school or higher95.0% +3%
Bachelor's or higher42.0% +31%
Homes with broadband91.1% −1%
All 9 people measures
MeasurePewaukeeAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population18,1964859th largest
Population change since 20206-0.1%below (median 1.1%)
Median age144.213% above
Bachelor's or higher142.0%31% above
High school or higher195.0%3% above
Household size11.922% below
Born abroad12.8%68% below
No health insurance12.0%69% below
Homes with broadband191.1%1% below
05

Life in Pewaukee

OpenStreetMap shows 3.7 libraries per 10,000 residents, more than in 88% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

Founded or incorporated in 1999. 159 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents9.8 −4%
Playgrounds per 10k9.8 +4%
Grocery stores per 10k3.7 +73%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k24.4 2.2×
Libraries per 10k3.7 4.2×
Named paths and bike trails0 km −95%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.0 −100%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Ice Age Trail 78 miles
  • Pullman National Historical Park 101 miles
  • Indiana Dunes National Park 115 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars20.1 −3%
Shops30.0 −1%
Arts, recreation and fitness6.4 +56%
Doctors' offices and clinics29.8 +48%
Child care centers2.3 +0%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
77.8
153% above the median place
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8
29.8
48% above the median place
Public schools12
113
above the median place (median 9)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasurePewaukeeAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure113above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure60,032above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher12County figure15.31% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure20.13% below
Shops per 10k8County figure30.01% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure6.456% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure29.848% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.30% above
Parks per 10k99.84% below
Playgrounds per 10k99.84% above
Grocery stores per 10k93.773% above
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k924.4119% above
Libraries per 10k93.7321% above
Named paths and bike trails90.195% below
Transit stops per sq mi90.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1077.8153% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles100below (median 2)
National Register listings11County figure159above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

January average low is 12°F, 51% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Pewaukee. Larger places are fetched first.

January average low13
12°F
51% below the median place
Hurricane risk14
9.7
86% below the median place
Average temperature13
47°F
15% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasurePewaukeeAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure82°F6% below
January average low13County figure12°F51% below
Average temperature13County figure47°F15% below
Annual precipitation13County figure35.6 in19% below
Natural hazard risk14County figure88.94% below
Hurricane risk14County figure9.786% below
Tornado risk14County figure95.718% above
Wildfire risk14County figure49.719% below
Heat wave risk14County figure90.40% above
Median air quality index15County figure415% below
Good air days15County figure66.3%3% below
08

Pewaukee in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 25% of the median income in 2030, up from 24% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Pewaukee does better than 26% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 28%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,260/mo (2024)$1,620/mo$1,330 to $1,970/mo+4.3%
Median household income$62,139 (2024)$77,500$65,500 to $91,500+3.8%
Median home value$281,800 (2024)$398,000$289,000 to $549,000+5.9%
Population8,216 (2025)8,2707,940 to 8,630+0.1%

The median home would be worth 5.1 years of the median income in 2030, against 4.5 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Pewaukee

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Greenfield, MA$1,107$55,614Compare
Southfield, MI$1,340$68,166Compare
Baxter, MN$1,154$70,688Compare
Nassau Bay, TX$1,331$71,696Compare
Nassau Bay, TXBaxter, MNSouthfield, MIGreenfield, MAPewaukee, WIPewaukeeGreenfieldSouthfieldBaxterNassau BayPewaukeeGreenfieldSouthfieldBaxterNassau Bay

Places built like Pewaukee

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Pewaukee performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Pewaukee, WI24.3%0.4%/yr-0.1%
Brighton, MI17.8%5.0%/yr6.1%Compare
Grafton, WI17.5%3.4%/yr10.9%Compare
Ashwaubenon, WI16.6%3.2%/yr2.5%Compare
Hartland, WI16.8%-0.7%/yr13.1%Compare
Forestville, OH19.7%5.0%/yrn/aCompare
Lake Geneva, WI22.0%7.8%/yr6.4%Compare

Common questions

Is Pewaukee a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 52 out of 100, better than 52% of the places we rate and 149th of 158 in Wisconsin. On cost, space and class size it scores 17 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Pewaukee expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 24.3% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $281,800.

What salary do you need to live in Pewaukee?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $50,400 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Pewaukee?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Greenfield, MA, Southfield, MI, Baxter, MN and Nassau Bay, TX.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  5. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  6. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Pewaukee with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Pewaukee itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/pewaukee-waukesha-county-wisconsin

Citytistics. “Pewaukee, Wisconsin.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/pewaukee-waukesha-county-wisconsin/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.