The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Wisconsin For 2024


The most expensive cities in Wisconsin are Mequon and Delafield for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Before you decide to relocate to Wisconsin, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.

These are the places in Wisconsin that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.

We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2018-2022 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 141 places in Wisconsin with more than 5,000 people.

After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Wisconsin for 2024.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Wisconsin For 2024

  1. Mequon
  2. Delafield
  3. Whitefish Bay
  4. Elm Grove
  5. Pewaukee
  6. Waunakee
  7. Pewaukee
  8. Fox Point
  9. Brookfield
  10. Verona

What’s the most expensive place to live in Wisconsin? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Mequon is the most expensive place to live in Wisconsin.

Merrill (the cheapest place to live in Wisconsin) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.

And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Wisconsin and the most expensive cities in the country:

The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Wisconsin For 2024

Mequon, WI

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 25,102
Cost Of Living Index: 123
Median Income: $141,996
Average Home Price: $572,570
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Mequon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Mequon is 123. The median income in Mequon comes in at $141,996 and the average home value is $572,570 for 2024.

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 7,181
Cost Of Living Index: 121
Median Income: $99,239
Average Home Price: $638,617
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.4x
More on Delafield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Delafield is 121. The median income in Delafield comes in at $99,239 and the average home value is $638,617 for 2024.

Whitefish Bay, WI

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 14,804
Cost Of Living Index: 120
Median Income: $142,356
Average Home Price: $553,113
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.9x
More on Whitefish Bay: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Whitefish Bay is 120. The median income in Whitefish Bay comes in at $142,356 and the average home value is $553,113 for 2024.

Elm Grove, WI

Source: Wikipedia User ChristOnABike | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 6,445
Cost Of Living Index: 119
Median Income: $126,996
Average Home Price: $580,004
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.6x
More on Elm Grove: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Elm Grove is 119. The median income in Elm Grove comes in at $126,996 and the average home value is $580,004 for 2024.

Pewaukee, WI

Source: Wikipedia User I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 15,817
Cost Of Living Index: 114
Median Income: $110,110
Average Home Price: $459,571
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.2x
More on Pewaukee: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Pewaukee is 114. The median income in Pewaukee comes in at $110,110 and the average home value is $459,571 for 2024.

Waunakee, WI

Source: Wikipedia User User:Royalbroil | CC BY-SA 2.5
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 14,794
Cost Of Living Index: 114
Median Income: $132,305
Average Home Price: $512,820
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.9x
More on Waunakee: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Waunakee is 114. The median income in Waunakee comes in at $132,305 and the average home value is $512,820 for 2024.

Pewaukee, WI

Source: Wikipedia User I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 8,227
Cost Of Living Index: 114
Median Income: $60,202
Average Home Price: $459,571
Home Price To Income Ratio: 7.6x
More on Pewaukee: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Pewaukee is 114. The median income in Pewaukee comes in at $60,202 and the average home value is $459,571 for 2024.

Fox Point, WI

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 6,811
Cost Of Living Index: 114
Median Income: $130,865
Average Home Price: $481,451
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.7x
More on Fox Point: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Fox Point is 114. The median income in Fox Point comes in at $130,865 and the average home value is $481,451 for 2024.

Brookfield, WI

Source: Wikipedia User Merenta | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 41,342
Cost Of Living Index: 113
Median Income: $121,837
Average Home Price: $450,774
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.7x
More on Brookfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Brookfield is 113. The median income in Brookfield comes in at $121,837 and the average home value is $450,774 for 2024.

Verona, WI

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 14,040
Cost Of Living Index: 113
Median Income: $109,960
Average Home Price: $480,612
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.4x
More on Verona: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Verona is 113. The median income in Verona comes in at $109,960 and the average home value is $480,612 for 2024.

Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Badger State For 2024

Map Of The Cheapest Places To Live In Wisconsin
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Wisconsin are:

  1. How much money do I make?
  2. How much do I have to spend to live there?

You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.

For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.

With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:

  • Overall Cost Of Living Index
  • Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
  • Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
  • Median Home Price

You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Wisconsin to figure out which is the most expensive.

You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.

So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 141 places in Wisconsin that have more than 5,000 people.

The place with the highest cost of living in Wisconsin according to the data is Mequon. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Wisconsin.

Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Wisconsin For 2024

Well, there you have it, the places in Wisconsin that have the highest cost of living, with Mequon ranking as the most expensive city in the Badger State.

The most expensive cities in Wisconsin are Mequon, Delafield, Whitefish Bay, Elm Grove, Pewaukee, Waunakee, Pewaukee, Fox Point, Brookfield, and Verona.

Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Wisconsin according to the data:

  1. Merrill
  2. Wisconsin Rapids
  3. Antigo

For more Wisconsin reading, check out:

Most Expensive Cities In Wisconsin

Rank City Cost Of Living Population Median Income Average Home Price Home/Income Ratio
1 Mequon 123 25,102 $141,996 $572,570 4.0x
2 Delafield 121 7,181 $99,239 $638,617 6.4x
3 Whitefish Bay 120 14,804 $142,356 $553,113 3.9x
4 Elm Grove 119 6,445 $126,996 $580,004 4.6x
5 Pewaukee 114 15,817 $110,110 $459,571 4.2x
6 Waunakee 114 14,794 $132,305 $512,820 3.9x
7 Pewaukee 114 8,227 $60,202 $459,571 7.6x
8 Fox Point 114 6,811 $130,865 $481,451 3.7x
9 Brookfield 113 41,342 $121,837 $450,774 3.7x
10 Verona 113 14,040 $109,960 $480,612 4.4x
11 Shorewood 113 13,707 $87,161 $467,870 5.4x
12 Richfield 113 11,757 $128,165 $493,223 3.8x
13 Fitchburg 112 29,826 $87,253 $447,181 5.1x
14 Cottage Grove 112 7,567 $123,750 $416,743 3.4x
15 McFarland 110 9,104 $91,029 $418,062 4.6x
16 Muskego 109 25,073 $112,537 $444,024 3.9x
17 Mount Horeb 109 7,717 $96,915 $412,236 4.3x
18 New Berlin 108 40,387 $94,769 $388,822 4.1x
19 Hartland 108 9,599 $82,238 $421,737 5.1x
20 Hudson 107 14,763 $90,250 $461,468 5.1x
21 Sussex 107 11,549 $105,435 $437,059 4.1x
22 Madison 106 268,516 $74,895 $369,136 4.9x
23 Menomonee Falls 106 38,610 $96,986 $367,403 3.8x
24 Oconomowoc 106 18,178 $99,104 $435,095 4.4x
25 Hales Corners 106 7,677 $84,911 $351,737 4.1x
26 Wauwatosa 105 47,919 $93,812 $362,434 3.9x
27 Franklin 105 36,513 $100,524 $380,895 3.8x
28 Cedarburg 105 12,213 $79,610 $475,448 6.0x
29 DeForest 105 10,767 $97,381 $356,196 3.7x
30 Monona 105 8,592 $87,723 $417,017 4.8x
31 Bristol 105 5,169 $103,652 $533,141 5.1x
32 Pleasant Prairie 104 21,373 $99,635 $386,284 3.9x
33 Oregon 104 11,240 $95,453 $422,070 4.4x
34 Mukwonago 104 8,311 $91,827 $423,592 4.6x
35 Oak Creek 103 36,286 $86,408 $356,263 4.1x
36 Sun Prairie 103 35,847 $90,384 $374,169 4.1x
37 Greendale 103 14,722 $89,684 $342,979 3.8x
38 Glendale 103 13,227 $79,861 $312,896 3.9x
39 Stoughton 103 13,091 $73,014 $331,307 4.5x
40 Onalaska 102 18,837 $80,296 $315,396 3.9x
41 Grafton 102 12,160 $83,500 $377,473 4.5x
42 Hobart 102 10,130 $107,222 $425,683 4.0x
43 West Salem 102 5,253 $79,891 $320,923 4.0x
44 Caledonia 101 25,277 $90,346 $327,335 3.6x
45 Holmen 101 10,806 $77,880 $357,250 4.6x
46 Lake Mills 101 6,280 $77,449 $364,364 4.7x
47 Waukesha 100 70,945 $77,558 $328,532 4.2x
48 Mount Pleasant 100 27,640 $83,827 $292,158 3.5x
49 Port Washington 100 12,446 $76,609 $322,974 4.2x
50 Waterford 100 5,587 $81,575 $383,978 4.7x
51 River Falls 99 16,165 $72,247 $370,227 5.1x
52 Suamico 99 12,878 $111,320 $396,184 3.6x
53 Altoona 99 8,506 $77,002 $306,195 4.0x
54 Jackson 99 7,814 $94,621 $367,088 3.9x
55 Lake Hallie 99 7,178 $76,134 $308,070 4.0x
56 Slinger 99 6,055 $92,984 $404,668 4.4x
57 Greenfield 98 37,521 $67,536 $291,988 4.3x
58 Hartford 98 15,667 $70,887 $324,957 4.6x
59 Fort Atkinson 98 12,522 $72,215 $256,174 3.5x
60 Twin Lakes 98 6,341 $88,770 $332,070 3.7x
61 Watertown 97 22,978 $67,189 $266,947 4.0x
62 Brown Deer 97 12,593 $88,164 $253,305 2.9x
63 Burlington 97 11,000 $80,529 $305,324 3.8x
64 Jefferson 97 7,778 $69,844 $285,758 4.1x
65 Edgerton 97 5,878 $80,255 $255,568 3.2x
66 Columbus 97 5,481 $65,727 $268,346 4.1x
67 Eau Claire 96 69,098 $63,882 $282,687 4.4x
68 Superior 96 26,562 $54,935 $198,624 3.6x
69 South Milwaukee 96 20,678 $68,801 $256,703 3.7x
70 Howard 96 20,022 $77,118 $340,552 4.4x
71 Bellevue 96 16,086 $76,152 $345,424 4.5x
72 Whitewater 96 15,725 $46,135 $295,965 6.4x
73 Lake Geneva 96 8,335 $62,883 $341,584 5.4x
74 Evansville 96 5,720 $83,431 $299,429 3.6x
75 La Crosse 95 52,043 $51,836 $237,653 4.6x
76 West Bend 95 31,682 $71,904 $300,826 4.2x
77 De Pere 95 25,373 $78,733 $337,383 4.3x
78 Menomonie 95 16,563 $51,250 $273,762 5.3x
79 Milton 95 5,692 $78,957 $293,485 3.7x
80 Neenah 94 27,309 $71,280 $295,098 4.1x
81 Baraboo 94 12,541 $66,592 $246,414 3.7x
82 Platteville 94 11,543 $46,554 $227,451 4.9x
83 New Richmond 94 10,158 $78,077 $345,613 4.4x
84 Kronenwetter 94 8,335 $107,727 $288,694 2.7x
85 Sheboygan Falls 94 8,163 $66,416 $273,284 4.1x
86 Kenosha 93 99,493 $64,963 $230,818 3.6x
87 Monroe 93 10,622 $62,191 $237,656 3.8x
88 Portage 93 10,450 $59,619 $244,455 4.1x
89 Delavan 93 8,519 $69,238 $286,756 4.1x
90 Cudahy 92 18,087 $66,592 $248,599 3.7x
91 Beaver Dam 92 16,652 $65,802 $239,342 3.6x
92 Plover 92 13,549 $76,120 $296,269 3.9x
93 Reedsburg 92 10,019 $66,026 $265,464 4.0x
94 St. Francis 92 9,288 $51,749 $250,548 4.8x
95 Sturtevant 92 6,823 $83,816 $245,292 2.9x
96 Milwaukee 91 573,299 $49,733 $191,843 3.9x
97 Oshkosh 91 66,373 $59,186 $219,076 3.7x
98 West Allis 91 59,907 $64,888 $236,211 3.6x
99 Fond du Lac 91 44,527 $58,675 $198,830 3.4x
100 Chippewa Falls 91 14,623 $58,558 $275,687 4.7x
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.