Rent vs buy in Kenosha, WI

In Kenosha, Wisconsin, typical rent is $1,627 /mo and a typical home is $281,730.

Rent

Over 7 years, renting is ahead by $15k.

With Kenosha's typical rent and home value, a 20% down payment, and today's mortgage rate. The break-even point is year 11.

Our clearly labeled opinion includes the math. These figures are estimates, not quotes. The stamp updates whenever you change a number.

Lead for renting: $15k
Break-even point: year 11
Full cost of ownership: $2,638 monthly

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Which costs less in Kenosha, renting or buying?

Including the money returned when you sell, renting costs $14,733 less over 7 years. Renting costs less during the first 10 years. Owning catches up once year 11 is reached.

Renting is the choice. Ownership. So far, net cost by year.

Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Kenosha

The rent and mortgage payment don't tell the whole story. Every monthly expense in year 1 appears here at Kenosha's typical price.

Each month, year 1	Amount	What it is
Rent	$1,627	All of it, every month
Mortgage payment	$1,536	$1,354 of it is interest in year 1
Property tax	$399	1.7% of the value a year
Insurance	$75	Census median for the city
Upkeep	$235	1% of the value a year
Owning, cash out	$2,245	$182 of it builds equity
Lost return on the down payment	$458	Annual earnings on the cash at 8.3%
Buying costs, spread out	$117	3.5% of the price over 7 years
True cost of owning	$2,638	Cash paid, minus the equity portion, plus the two costs listed above

The figures behind Kenosha's verdict

Typical home value from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026: $281,730
Typical rent from Zillow ZORI, September 2026: $1,627 /mo
The engine doesn't model private mortgage insurance; a 20% down payment avoids it.: 20%
Rate source for mortgages: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US): 7.24%
Growth in home pricesFHFA house price index, Wisconsin, 1995 to 2025: Each year: 4.1%.
Rate of rent growth: CPI for rent of primary residence, yearly growth from 2006 to 2026: Each year: 3.5%.
Return on savings: 60% S&P 500, including dividends, plus 40% 10-year Treasuries; rebalanced yearly from 1928 to 2025: Each year: 8.3%.
Property tax: Census ACS 2020-2024, Kenosha: At 1.7% of value.
Home insurance: Census ACS 2020-2024, Kenosha: $75 /mo
Upkeep costs: Fannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%: Each year, 1% of value.
Buying costs: Freddie Mac, 2% to 5% midpoint: Equal to 3.5% of the price.
Sale expensesAgent commission plus closing costs: Equal to 6% of the price.

Which changes would reverse the result in Kenosha?

Each line marks the point where Kenosha's 7-year verdict changes, with all other conditions remaining unchanged.

Renting comes out ahead when

We apply 4.1% as Wisconsin's long-run rate, so home prices grow under 4.8% a year.
The mortgage rate remains higher than 6.31%.
A similar home costs less than $1,780 a month to rent (typical here: $1,627).
Your move happens before year 11.

Buying comes out ahead when

Home prices grow at more than 4.8% a year.
You lock in a mortgage rate under 6.31%; today's rate is 7.24%.
If you rent that same home, the monthly cost would be more than $1,780.
You remain there for 11 years or more.

How Kenosha compares with the other 812 cities

Measure	Kenosha	Median city
Typical home value	$281,730	$422,451
Typical rent	$1,627 /mo	$1,837 /mo
Price-to-rent ratio	14.4 (#658 of 813)	18.5
Home prices, last 10 years	7.5% a year	6.2% a year
Rents, last 5 years	6.4% a year	4% a year
Property tax	1.70%	0.87%
Households that rent	41%	42%

Sources: Zillow data for ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.

More cities in Wisconsin

Rent. Madison, WI. Renting saves $79k.
Renting saves $65k in Janesville, WI.

Wisconsin rent vs buy: state figures