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CITY · 2020 ACS

Milwaukee

Wisconsin · 577,222 residents · 96.173 sq mi
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The short version

Milwaukee has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $43,125. Population has declined 3% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $128,300. At a median age of 32.1, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 24.6% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 32% less than the Wisconsin median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 32.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
577,222
−3%since 2000
from 596,974 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
6,002 / sq mi
−3%since 2000
from 6,207 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
32.1
+5%since 2000
from 30.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
561K579K598K616K634K1990201020202024Milwaukee
2024567K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,125
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,216 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,167
+49%since 2000
from $16,181 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
26.2%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
24.6%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade15%
US avg: 10%
Information10.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services5.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$128,300
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$866
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $527 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
39.5%
−5.9 ptssince 2000
from 45.3% in 2000
60.5% rent
Afford Score
3.0
+20%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Milwaukee on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic45.4%(270,989)
Black36.9%(220,432)
Hispanic / Latino12%(71,646)
Asian2.9%(17,339)
Other0%
Diversity Score77.7%(463,877)
2020
White, non-Hispanic32.3%(186,419)
Black37.8%(218,273)
Hispanic / Latino20.1%(116,306)
Asian5.2%(29,969)
Other3.7%(21,429)
Diversity Score87.9%(507,297)
Diversity Score
88
+13%since 2000
from 78 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.6%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 18.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
84.4%
+9.6 ptssince 2000
from 74.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
8.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.4 min
+62%since 2000
from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
71.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 71.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
17.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.3%
−6.0 ptssince 2011
from 12.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2011
from 66.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
31.6%
−31.5 ptssince 2009
from 63.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
51.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
10.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.3%
−75.5 ptssince 2013
from 84.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Explore

Neighborhoods in Milwaukee

Arlington HeightsAvenues WestBay ViewBorchert FieldBrewer's HillBurnham ParkCapitol HeightsClarke SquareClock Tower AcresConcordiaForest Home HillsFranklin HeightsGrasslyn ManorHampton HeightsHarambeeHillsideHistoric Mitchell StreetJackson ParkJuneauKops ParkLayton ParkLincolnLincoln CreekLindsay ParkLower East SideMcGovern ParkMenomonee River HillsMerrill ParkMidtownMitchell WestMuskego WayNorth DivisionNorthpointOld North MilwaukeePark WestPoloniaRiverside ParkRiverwestSaint JosephSherman ParkSilver SpringSunset HeightsTimmerman WestTippecanoeUptownWalker's PointWalnut HillWashington HeightsWashington ParkWilson ParkNeighborhoods in Milwaukee
Drill deeper

Places similar to Milwaukee

Tucson
Pop 548,371
Memphis
Pop 609,647
Baltimore
Pop 569,997
El Paso
Pop 683,012
Places similar to Milwaukee
Head to head

Compare Milwaukee to nearby cities

MILWAUKEE VS
Wauwatosa
Income$101,138+135%
Home value$339,000+164%
Population48,649−91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MILWAUKEE VS
Shorewood
Income$86,726+101%
Home value$443,700+246%
Population13,474−98%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MILWAUKEE VS
Glendale
Income$78,092+81%
Home value$282,800+120%
Population14,795−97%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MILWAUKEE VS
Whitefish Bay
Income$157,109+264%
Home value$533,800+316%
Population14,489−97%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?

Milwaukee, Wisconsin has about 577,222 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?

The typical household in Milwaukee, Wisconsin earns about $43,125 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Milwaukee, Wisconsin expensive?

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $128,300, and the typical rent is about $866 a month.

How educated are people in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?

About 24.6% of adults age 25 and over in Milwaukee, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?

About 24.6% of people in Milwaukee, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.

Has Milwaukee, Wisconsin grown since 1990?

Yes, Milwaukee, Wisconsin has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 50,866 residents, a change of about -8 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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