Should I Move To
Waukesha, Wisconsin is home to about 70,945 people. On cost of living, it lands in the moderate band — 4% below the national average. The median renter pays around $1,115 a month against a typical household income of $77,558. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 51 out of 100 (grade C-), putting it at #441 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Waukesha's composite cost-of-living index lands at 96 (100 = US average), which puts it in the moderate band. At $1,115/mo against $77,558 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 17% of income on housing — comfortably under the 30% rule of thumb, which is unusual. Median home value sits around $267,200.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is cold-winter — summer averages around 80°F, winter averages around 20°F. Precipitation totals about 35 inches a year. Car-dependent for most errands, with small walkable pockets downtown or in older neighborhoods. Air quality reads good (AQI 44).
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Waukesha reads as a moderate fit for families. It earns 55/100 (grade C) on the families profile. Strongest on job market (73/100); weakest on climate (22/100).
Waukesha doesn't obviously fit retirees. It earns 46/100 (grade D) on the retirees profile. Strongest on job market (73/100); weakest on climate (22/100).
Waukesha doesn't obviously fit remote workers. It earns 51/100 (grade C-) on the remote workers profile. Strongest on job market (73/100); weakest on climate (22/100).
Waukesha reads as a moderate fit for young professionals. It earns 56/100 (grade C) on the young professionals profile. Strongest on job market (73/100); weakest on climate (22/100).
Waukesha, Wisconsin pulls a 51/100 overall on the UrbRank Score (grade C-), currently ranked #441 nationally. The composite weights seven lifestyle dimensions: affordability, safety, climate, walkability, jobs, environment, and education.
Waukesha's cost-of-living index is 96 (with 100 as the US average), which lands in the moderate band — 4% below the national average. Median rent runs about $1,115/mo.
Cold-winter — summer averages around 80°F, winter averages around 20°F, with about 35 inches of precipitation a year.
Walk Score: 43/100. Car-dependent for most errands, with small walkable pockets downtown or in older neighborhoods.
Waukesha has about 70,945 residents, 42% of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher with a median age of 36.
Use UrbRank's comparison tool to put Waukesha head-to-head against any other US city — housing, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life metrics side by side. The leaderboard pages also show how Waukesha stacks up for families, retirees, remote workers, and young professionals specifically.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Waukesha with other Wisconsin cities scored on UrbRank.
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