CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

43.06° N · 88.47° W · GEOID 5578375

Summit

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

WisconsinSummit, WISummitSummit

The short answer

Summit is home to 5,114 people. Median household income is $140,682 a year and median rent is $1,615 a month, 13.8% 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 $533,300, about 3.8x annual median household income.

The story in Summit is how fast things are changing. Population change slowed in the latest estimate: +0% from 2024 to 2025, against +2.4% a year before that. Also notable: The population grew 11.1% since 2020, faster than in 86% of places its size. So far it looks sustainable: home prices have tracked incomes and there is some slack in the housing stock.

97OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Exceptional

Summit scores better than 97% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 23rd of 158 in Wisconsin.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%72
Economy 20%93
Safety 20%88
Amenities 15%37
Education 10%84
Commute 10%42
Growth 5%72
Median gross rent
$1,615
18% above the median place
Median household income
$140,682
75% above the median place
Median home value
$533,300
67% above the median place
Unemployment
2.3%
53% 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.

What stands out about Summit

  • AffordabilityAfter the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $125,200 a year, more than in 89% of the 1,875 places under 10,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Summit

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
5.1% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 1.4% from another state. County figure.
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
$64,600 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,615 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,241 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $533,300.
Getting to work
26 minutes each way on average; 14.8% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Country Knolls, NY matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
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)
Income of households moving in7
$86,790
23% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureSummitAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year1County figure5.1%11% 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

Rent is light relative to pay, but the county has a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 89 out of 100. Budget for insurance before counting the savings.

Summit13.8%
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
$64,600
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
13.8%
32% below the median place
Home price to income
3.8x
0% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
14%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$125,500
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Summit, $1,615 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 Summit, but easier on the budget

Places that match Summit 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
Country Knolls, NY9210.0% vs 13.8%$4,900Compare
Vernon, WI9011.2% vs 13.8%n/aCompare
Credit River, MN847.5% vs 13.8%$2,900Compare
Campton Hills, IL8210.0% vs 13.8%$59,500Compare

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

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Summit? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Homeownership1
91.2%
37% above the median place
Median home value1
$533,300
67% above the median place
Property tax paid (median)1
$5,332
63% above the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasureSummitAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,61518% above
Rent to income113.8%32% below
Property tax rate11.0%10% above
Home price to income13.8x0% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure96.94% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,26322% below
Property tax paid (median)1$5,33263% above
Median home value1$533,30067% above
Home prices, 1-year change4County figure5.4%68% above
Home prices, 5-year change4County figure52.2%1% above
Homeownership191.2%37% above
Renters paying 30%+1County figure44.8%11% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,24120% above
Vacant homes19.3%31% above
Median year built119860% 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%)
Median household income1
$140,682
75% above the median place
Income per person1
$63,394
58% above the median place
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureSummitAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$140,68275% above
Income per person1$63,39458% above
Unemployment1County figure2.3%53% below
Average annual pay5County figure$71,7399% above
Pay growth, 1 year5County figure2.5%32% below
Jobs5County figure248,66265% above
Poverty rate1County figure5.2%51% below
Mean commute126 min5% above
Works from home114.8%19% above
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

High school or higher is 99.1%, 7% above the median place.

High school or higher1
99.1%
7% above the median place
Median age1
50.4
29% above the median place
Homes with broadband1
96.8%
5% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Born abroad3.1% −65%
Bachelor's or higher54.3% +69%
Household size2.6 +3%
All 9 people measures
MeasureSummitAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population15,1146555th largest
Population change since 2020611.1%above (median 1.1%)
Median age150.429% above
Bachelor's or higher154.3%69% above
High school or higher199.1%7% above
Household size12.63% above
Born abroad13.1%65% below
No health insurance1County figure3.1%52% below
Homes with broadband196.8%5% above
05

Life in Summit

OpenStreetMap shows 35.2 parks per 10,000 residents, more than in 93% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.

2 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks.

  • Pabst, Gustave, Estate listed 1989
  • Castleman, Dr. Alfred L., House listed 1996

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents35.2 3.5×
Playgrounds per 10k19.6 2.1×
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k7.8 −30%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails5 km 2.3×
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 68 miles
  • Pullman National Historical Park 104 miles
  • Indiana Dunes National Park 120 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
67.8
120% above the median place
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8
29.8
48% above the median place
Public schools13
113
above the median place (median 9)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureSummitAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools13County figure113above (median 9)
Public school students13County figure60,032above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher13County 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 10k935.2246% above
Playgrounds per 10k919.6108% above
Grocery stores per 10k90.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k97.830% below
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails94.5125% above
Transit stops per sq mi90.0below (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1067.8120% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles100below (median 2)
National Register listings11285% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Violent crime per 100k is 37, 81% below the median place.

Violent crime per 100k
37
81% below the median place
Property crime per 100k
547
55% below the median place
Months reported
12 of 12
by the city police department to the FBI

Counts only offenses reported by the city police department. Sheriff, state and campus police are not included, and some departments do not report to the FBI at all, so compare with care.

January average low14
12°F
51% below the median place
Hurricane risk15
9.7
86% below the median place
Average temperature14
47°F
15% below the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureSummitAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high14County figure82°F6% below
January average low14County figure12°F51% below
Average temperature14County figure47°F15% below
Annual precipitation14County figure35.6 in19% below
Natural hazard risk15County figure88.94% below
Hurricane risk15County figure9.786% below
Tornado risk15County figure95.718% above
Wildfire risk15County figure49.719% below
Heat wave risk15County figure90.40% above
Median air quality index16County figure415% below
Good air days16County figure66.3%3% below
08

Summit in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 14% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 14% 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, Summit does better than 72% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 20%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,615/mo (2024)$2,100/mo$1,730 to $2,560/mo+4.5%
Median household income$140,682 (2024)$177,500$150,000 to $210,000+3.9%
Median home value$533,300 (2024)$749,000$544,000 to $1,032,000+5.8%
Population5,323 (2025)5,6405,410 to 5,880+1.1%

The median home would be worth 4.2 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.8 now.

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

09

Places like Summit

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

PlaceRentIncome
Richfield, WI$1,388$143,963Compare
Kingston, MA$1,603$150,886Compare
Brecksville, OH$1,588$135,000Compare
Emerson, NJ$1,887$155,536Compare
Emerson, NJBrecksville, OHKingston, MARichfield, WISummit, WISummitRichfieldBrecksvilleSummitRichfieldKingstonBrecksville

Places built like Summit

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 Summit performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Summit, WI13.8%4.3%/yr11.1%
Rib Mountain, WI16.4%6.2%/yr-0.4%Compare
Waukesha, WI11.8%3.1%/yr0.5%Compare
Tichigan, WI11.4%5.0%/yrn/aCompare
Lake Fenton, MI16.0%7.4%/yrn/aCompare
Vernon, WI11.2%2.9%/yr-0.1%Compare
Highland Heights, OH17.9%2.3%/yr-1.8%Compare

Common questions

Is Summit a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 97 out of 100, better than 97% of the places we rate and 23rd of 158 in Wisconsin. After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $125,200 a year, more than in 89% of the 1,875 places under 10,000 people we track. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Summit expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 13.8% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $533,300.

What salary do you need to live in Summit?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $64,600 a year. Work it out from your current city.

Is Summit safe?

There were 37 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, against 192 in the typical place.

What places are similar to Summit?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Richfield, WI, Kingston, MA, Brecksville, OH and Emerson, NJ.

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. Crime Data Explorer · Federal Bureau of Investigation · 2025 data
  13. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  14. 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
  15. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  16. 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 Summit with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Summit itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/summit-wisconsin

Citytistics. “Summit, Wisconsin.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/summit-wisconsin/

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