Rent vs buy in Waukesha, WI
In Waukesha, Wisconsin, the typical rent is $1,475 /mo and the typical home is $419,895.
Renting comes out ahead by $99k over 7 years
That math uses Waukesha's typical rent, its home value, 20% down, and the current mortgage rate. No break-even point within 30 years.
An opinion, clearly labelled, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes.
- Renting leads by
- $99k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- 30 years or more owning never catches up sooner
- What owning really costs
- $3,803 a month year 1, against $1,475 rent
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In Waukesha, is renting or buying cheaper?
Over 7 years renting costs $98,732 less, counting what you get back when you sell. Every year shown, renting's net cost sits under owning's, and owning never catches up by 30 years.
Rent. Own. Net cost to date, year by year.
Comparing average rent and mortgage payments in Waukesha
Rent and the mortgage don't tell you everything. At Waukesha's typical price, these are all the costs you'll face each month in year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,475 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,289 | $2,018 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $500 | 1.43% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $77 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $350 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,217 | $271 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $683 | The yearly amount this cash would earn at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $175 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,803 | Cash out, plus the two lines above, less the equity part |
The Waukesha verdict, explained by numbers
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $419,895
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,475 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Wisconsin, 1995 to 2025
- 4.1% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Waukesha
- 1.43% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Waukesha
- $77 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
In Waukesha, what would flip this?
Every line shows where the 7-year verdict in Waukesha flips, and everything else stays as it is.
Renting is the better deal when
- Home prices grow by less than 6.9% each year, and we use 4.1%, the long-run rate for Wisconsin's market.
- That mortgage rate stays above 2.99%.
- Homes like this rent for less than $2,530 a month; here the typical rent is $1,475.
- Move at any point during the next 30 years and owning stays behind with these figures.
You win by buying when
- Home prices rise faster than 6.9% a year.
- Your mortgage rate locks in under 2.99% (today's is 7.24%).
- If you rented this place, you'd pay more than $2,530 every month.
Waukesha compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Waukesha | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $419,895 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,475 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 23.7 (#179 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.6% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 5.9% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.43% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 41% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Other Wisconsin cities
- Rent vs buy: Milwaukee, WI. Renting is ahead by $4k.
- Madison, WI. Rent. Renting comes out $79k ahead.
- Green Bay, WI. Rent. Renting comes out $62k ahead.
- Kenosha, WI. Rent. Renting comes out $15k ahead.
- Racine, WI. Rent. Renting comes out $24k ahead.
- Appleton, WI. Rent. Renting comes out $66k ahead.
- Eau Claire, WI. Rent. Renting comes out $76k ahead.
- Oshkosh, WI. Rent. Renting comes out $42k ahead.
- Janesville, WI. Rent. Renting comes out $65k ahead.
- West Allis, WI. Rent. Renting comes out $30k ahead.
- La Crosse, WI. Rent. Renting comes out $44k ahead.