10 Most Affordable Places to Live in Wisconsin

With the scenic beauty of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, the charming towns in Door County, and vibrant cities like Milwaukee, there are plenty of reasons to love living in Wisconsin. If you’ve been considering moving to Wisconsin or are hoping to relocate to a new city, you also probably have a budget you’d like to stay under as you look for a place to live. As of July, the median home sale price in Wisconsin is $344,900. 

Don’t worry if that price doesn’t fit in your budget – we’ve got options to help you find a home or apartment that does. Redfin has rounded up a list of 10 of the most affordable places to live in Wisconsin – and they all have a median home sale price under the state’s average. Let’s jump in and see what cities are on the list.

#1: Racine

Median home price: $185,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $132 
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $840 
Median household income: $44,346 
Nearest major metro: Milwaukee (30 miles) 
Racine, WI homes for sale
Racine, WI apartments for rent

With a median home sale price of $185,000, Racine takes the number one spot on our list of affordable places to live in Wisconsin. About 30 miles away from Milwaukee, the nearest metro, Racine is home to roughly 77,800 people. Living in Racine, you can take in the views of Lake Michigan from the Racine Overlook or Racine Breakwater Lighthouse. You can also spend a beach day at Racine North Beach, and check out the shops, museums, and restaurants in downtown Racine.

#2: Milwaukee

Median home price: $206,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $145 
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,480 
Median household income: $43,125 
Milwaukee, WI homes for sale
Milwaukee, WI apartments for rent

Taking second place on our list of affordable cities to live in Wisconsin is Milwaukee. When living in this city of 577,200 people, you can spend time outside exploring Mitchell Park Domes, Lincoln Park, and Havenwoods State Forest, or enjoy the day at McKinley Beach. Make sure to check out the Milwaukee Riverwalk District, and visit museums like the Milwaukee Art Museum if you move to Milwaukee.

#3: Oshkosh

Median home price: $222,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $137 
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $899 
Median household income: $51,282 
Nearest major metro: Green Bay (50 miles)
Oshkosh, WI homes for sale
Oshkosh, WI apartments for rent

Third is Oshkosh where about 66,800 residents currently live. The median home sale price is $222,000 which is about $120K less than the median home sale price in Wisconsin. Make sure to visit Asylum Point Lighthouse overlooking Lake Winnebago, grab a meal at one of the many waterfront restaurants, and visit one of the museums like Paine Art Center and Gardens or Oshkosh Public Museum if you move to the third most affordable city.

#4: La Crosse

Median home price: $232,500 
Average sale price per square foot: $155 
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $849 
Median household income: $43,125 
Nearest major metro: Madison (140 miles)
La Crosse, WI homes for sale
La Crosse, WI apartments for rent

Only slightly more expensive than Oshkosh is the city of La Crosse. There are several top attractions you may want to see in La Crosse. Make sure to check out Riverside Park located along the Mississippi River, visit the iconic Grandad Bluff Park offering panoramic views of La Crosse, and explore museums like the Dahl Auto Museum or the World’s Largest Six-Pack landmark.

#5: West Allis

Median home price: $245,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $172 
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $995 
Median household income: $43,125 
Nearest major metro: Milwaukee (7 miles)
West Allis, WI homes for sale
West Allis, WI apartments for rent

Another great affordable city to consider moving to is West Allis. With 60,300 residents, moving to this affordable place gives you the perks of city-life without living in a major metropolitan area. Living in West Allis, you can visit McCarty Park where you’ll find McCarty Pond, check out the events at Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center, and visit the Milwaukee County Zoo just over in Milwaukee.

#6: Kenosha

Median home price: $246,500 
Average sale price per square foot: $161 
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,044
Median household income: $56,113 
Nearest major metro: Milwaukee (40 miles)
Kenosha, WI homes for sale
Kenosha, WI apartments for rent

Another noteworthy city on our list is Kenosha, where you’ll find the home prices are about $100K less than the state’s average. Kenosha has about 99,900 residents and is a great city to consider living in this year. There are lots of activities to do in this city such as exploring the Kenosha Sand Dunes where you’ll find trails and views of Lake Michigan or spending the day at Simmons Island Beach. You can also check out one of the museums like Kenosha Public Museum, the Civil War Museum, or the Dinosaur Discovery Museum, among many other local favorites.

#7: Appleton

Median home price: $258,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $142 
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,325 
Median household income: $61,475 
Nearest major metro: Green Bay (32 miles)
Appleton, WI homes for sale
Appleton, WI apartments for rent

Coming in seventh place on our list of affordable places to live in Wisconsin is Appleton. With a population of close to 75,600, Appleton is a great area to live in that’s not nearly as big as the major metropolitan cities in Wisconsin. If you find yourself moving to this city make sure to check out museums like the Hearthstone Historic House Museum and The History Museum at the Castle, visit Sunset Park, and explore the Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve.

#8: Janesville

Median home price: $259,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $159 
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,034 
Median household income: $55,914 
Nearest major metro: Madison (40 miles)
Janesville, WI homes for sale
Janesville, WI apartments for rent

If you’ve lived in Wisconsin for some time, you may know our eighth city – Janesville. About 65,600 people live in Janesville, located in southern Wisconsin about 40 miles south of Madison. Be sure to visit the Rotary Botanical Gardens with over 20-acres of paths and gardens, visit the downtown Janesville area, and hike the Ice Age Trail once living in Janesville.

#9: Green Bay

Median home price: $287,450 
Average sale price per square foot: $147 
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $899 
Median household income: $52,214 
Nearest major metro: Milwaukee (117 miles)
Green Bay, WI homes for sale
Green Bay, WI apartments for rent

With a population of about 107,400, Green Bay is a great place to consider moving to in Wisconsin. Popular things to do in Green Bay include watching a Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field, visiting outdoor spots like the Green Bay Botanical Garden, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Center, and exploring the riverfront restaurants, shops, and museums.

#10: Eau Claire

Median home price: $300,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $161 
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $795 
Median household income: $59,705 
Nearest major metro: Minneapolis (95 miles)
Eau Claire, WI homes for sale
Eau Claire, WI apartments for rent

The final city to make our list is Eau Claire. This city has a population of 69,400 and you can visit the lakeside Carson Park where you can find trails and local history museums, stroll through downtown Eau Claire, and check out the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire campus. There’s always something to check out while living in Eau Claire.

Methodology: All cities must have over 50,000 residents per the US Census and have a median home sale price under the average median home sale price in Wisconsin. Median home sale price and median sale price per square foot from the Redfin Data Center during July 2023. Average rental data from Rent.com July 2023. Population and median household income data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.

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