United States › Wisconsin › South Milwaukee CITY
South Milwaukee Wisconsin · 20,191 residents (2025 est.) · 4.83 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
South Milwaukee is home to 20,442 people in Wisconsin. There are 4,236 people per square mile. The typical home is worth $235,700, having more than doubled since 2000. The foreign-born share is 6%. About 30% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Median rent is $1,014 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 21,256 in 2000
20,191 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
4,236 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 4,387 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K 21K 21K 21K 21K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 South Milwaukee Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $73,427
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,197 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $20,925 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.361 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.8%
Public administration 4.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.3%
Education & health services 1.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.4%
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$235,700
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $111,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,014
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $569 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 61.9% in 2000
33.2% rent
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.40 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.39 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 37.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 92.6%(19,682)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 77.2%(15,790)
Hispanic / Latino 12.2%(2,489)
from 23 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data from 15.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 85.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 80.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 78.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 11.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 10.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 78.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 89.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 86.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 89.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 4.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 36.7%(3,037)
Women 15+
Never married 31.3%(2,648)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 10.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 57.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 11.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 19.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 23.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 68.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 39.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 15%(166)
Gulf War (1990s) 21.4%(236)
Share of the 1,104 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to South Milwaukee Head to head
Compare South Milwaukee to nearby cities SOUTH MILWAUKEE VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin? South Milwaukee, Wisconsin has about 20,442 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin? The typical household in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin earns about $73,427 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is South Milwaukee, Wisconsin expensive? In South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $235,700, and the typical rent is about $1,014 a month.
How educated are people in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin? About 29.9% of adults age 25 and over in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin? About 13.1% of people in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.
Has South Milwaukee, Wisconsin grown since 1990? Yes, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 516 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.
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