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CITY

Wauwatosa

Wisconsin · 48,649 residents (2025 est.) · 13.227 sq mi
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The short version

Wauwatosa is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $101,138. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 64% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $339,000. Poverty is rare here, at 5.8% of residents. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
64% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 34%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
48,529
+3%since 2000
from 47,271 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,669 / sq mi
+3%since 2000
from 3,574 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.4
−2%since 2000
from 39.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:48,649 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
45K46K47K49K50K1990201020202024Wauwatosa
202449K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$101,138
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $54,519 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$58,931
+104%since 2000
from $28,834 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
62.3%
+20.8 ptssince 2009
from 41.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.432
+3%since 2010
from 0.418 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services10.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration8.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Information8.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade3.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$339,000
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $138,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,438
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $702 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.8%
−6.9 ptssince 2000
from 67.8% in 2000
39.2% rent
Vacancy rate
5.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.5%
−9.1 ptssince 2009
from 24.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 39.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+32%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
59
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wauwatosa on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.9%(43,935)
Black2%(955)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(813)
Asian1.9%(912)
Other0%
Diversity Score13.8%(6,534)
2024
White, non-Hispanic77.6%(37,656)
Black7.1%(3,458)
Hispanic / Latino5%(2,427)
Asian4.6%(2,229)
Other5.7%(2,759)
Diversity Score48.1%(23,354)
Diversity Score
48
+248%since 2000
from 14 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
64.0%
+16.4 ptssince 2000
from 47.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
98.2%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 93.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
26.8%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 17.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.5 min
+76%since 2000
from 11.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
66.9%
−18.3 ptssince 2009
from 85.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
22.4%
+18.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.1%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 3.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 69.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
61.2%
−13.9 ptssince 2009
from 75.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
Female
52.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
Foreign born
6.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.8%
−41.6 ptssince 2009
from 45.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2012
from 9.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.7%
−93.3 ptssince 2013
from 96.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.2%
+7.5 ptssince 2017
from 83.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 91.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 2.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin?

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin has about 48,529 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin?

The typical household in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin earns about $101,138 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wauwatosa, Wisconsin expensive?

In Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $339,000, and the typical rent is about $1,438 a month.

How educated are people in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin?

About 64.0% of adults age 25 and over in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin?

About 5.8% of people in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wauwatosa, Wisconsin grown since 1990?

Yes, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 837 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy