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METRO AREA

Milwaukee Metro

Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI · 4 counties · 1,575,010 residents (2025 est.) · 1,454.837 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#17Most densely populatedof 9251,083#41Largest by populationof 9251,575,010
The short version

Milwaukee has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $80,098. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $294,138. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.8
US median: 38.9
More educated
39% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,568,938
+5%since 2000
from 1,500,741 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,078 / sq mi
+5%since 2000
from 1,032 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.8
+10%since 2000
from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,575,010 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1.4M1.5M1.5M1.5M1.6M1990201020202024Milwaukee
20241.6M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$80,098
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,881 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$45,732
+97%since 2000
from $23,158 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
51.9%
+18.1 ptssince 2009
from 33.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.459
+5%since 2010
from 0.437 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade5.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$294,138
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $125,259 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,176
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $606 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 61.5% in 2000
39.4% rent
Vacancy rate
6.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.6%
−10.1 ptssince 2009
from 30.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 45.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+37%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
43
RELATED:See current rent listings in Milwaukee on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic74.4%(1,116,150)
Black15.5%(232,247)
Hispanic / Latino6.3%(94,511)
Asian2%(30,765)
Other0%
Diversity Score49.6%(744,686)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic63.9%(1,002,518)
Black15.6%(244,705)
Hispanic / Latino12.1%(189,444)
Asian4.1%(64,902)
Other4.3%(67,369)
Diversity Score68.7%(1,077,165)
Segregation Score55.6%(871,619)
Diversity Score
69
+38%since 2000
from 50 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
56
−5%since 2020
from 58 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
39.4%
+12.6 ptssince 2000
from 26.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.6%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 84.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.9%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.7 min
+66%since 2000
from 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.9%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 80.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.1%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.2%
+12.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.8%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 68.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
44.2%
−21.7 ptssince 2009
from 65.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
51.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
7.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.9%
−43.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2012
from 11.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.5%
−85.0 ptssince 2013
from 90.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.3%
+12.6 ptssince 2017
from 78.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
86.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 87.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 7.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

MilwaukeeCENTRAL562,407WaukeshaCENTRAL70,872
What's inside

4 component counties

Milwaukee CountyCENTRAL924,216Waukesha CountyCENTRAL417,210Washington County139,238Ozaukee County94,346
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Milwaukee

Jacksonville
Pop 1,785,500
Oklahoma City
Pop 1,512,813
Louisville
Pop 1,402,509
Virginia Beach
Pop 1,797,213
Places similar to Milwaukee
Head to head

Compare Milwaukee side by side

MILWAUKEE VS
Jacksonville
Income$81,763+2%
Home value$342,382+16%
Population1,785,500+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MILWAUKEE VS
Oklahoma City
Income$72,641−9%
Home value$228,101−22%
Population1,512,813−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MILWAUKEE VS
Louisville
Income$75,127−6%
Home value$252,743−14%
Population1,402,509−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MILWAUKEE VS
Virginia Beach
Income$84,869+6%
Home value$338,965+15%
Population1,797,213+14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI has about 1,568,938 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

The typical household in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI earns about $80,098 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI expensive?

In Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI, the median home is worth about $294,138, and the typical rent is about $1,176 a month.

How educated are people in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

About 39.4% of adults age 25 and over in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

About 12.3% of people in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI live below the federal poverty line.

Has Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI grown since 1990?

Yes, Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI has grown since 1990. The population has added about 136,789 residents, a change of about 10 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →