Rent vs buy in West Allis, WI
In West Allis, Wisconsin, the typical rent is $1,445 /mo and the typical home is $271,965.
Renting comes out ahead by $30k over 7 years
With West Allis's typical home value and rent, plus 20% down at today's mortgage rate. You reach break-even in year 18.
An opinion, clearly marked, with the math shown. These figures are estimates, not quotes. Change any number and the stamp updates.
- Renting leads by
- $30k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- In year 18 when owning catches up
- Real cost of owning
- $2,593 a month year 1, against $1,445 rent
Change my numbers
For the stamp, we use West Allis's typical rent along with its typical home value. It can flip based on three things: the rent you pay, the price and the years you count.
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In West Allis, is renting or buying cheaper?
Over 7 years, renting costs less by $30,355 once you count the money you get back from selling. For the first 17 years, renting is the cheaper choice. By year 18, owning catches up.
Rent Owning it. Running net cost, year by year.
What rent and mortgage cost on average in West Allis
Rent and mortgage payments aren't the whole story. Here are all monthly costs for year 1, using West Allis's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,445 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,483 | $1,307 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $433 | 1.91% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $71 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $227 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,213 | $176 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $442 | What that cash would earn yearly at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $113 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,593 | Cash out, minus equity, plus the two lines listed above. |
The math behind the West Allis verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $271,965
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,445 /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, West Allis
- 1.91% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, West Allis
- $71 /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 West Allis, what would flip the result?
Each line shows the point at which the verdict over 7 years in West Allis turns around, with everything else left as it is.
When renting wins
- At 4.1%, Wisconsin's long-run rate, home prices rise more slowly than 5.5% a year.
- Above 5.25% is where the mortgage rate stays.
- Rent on a home like this runs under $1,770 a month (the typical figure here is $1,445).
- You move earlier than year 18.
When buying wins
- Home values rise by more than 5.5% a year.
- You lock in a rate under 5.25% on a mortgage (today's is 7.24%).
- That same home would rent for over $1,770 a month.
- You live there 18 years or more.
West Allis compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | West Allis | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $271,965 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,445 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 15.7 (#584 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 7.7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 6.8% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.91% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 45% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Wisconsin
- Rent. Milwaukee, WI favors renting by $4k.
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- Rent. Green Bay, WI favors renting by $62k.
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- Rent. Oshkosh, WI favors renting by $42k.
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- Rent. In La Crosse, WI, renting wins by $44k.