Waukesha, Wisconsin Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
Waukesha, WI Population Density Map and Area Scores
Area Score
Health, income and education, each graded from F to A+. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
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B
Health Around average
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B
Income Around average
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B
Education Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population
| Metric | Waukesha | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,950 | 5,910,864 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 2246.7 | 90.2 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.17% | 0.34% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 37.6 | 40.4 | 37.3 |
| Households | 24,847 | 2,477,189 | 130,235,071 |
Population in Waukesha grew by 5.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 57,950 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in Waukesha is Gen Z, aged 13–28, at 25.3% of residents. That is 4.0 points above Wisconsin as a whole.
- Gen Z 13–28 14,681 25.3% +4.0 pts
- Millennials 29–44 12,564 21.7% +0.9 pts
- Gen X 45–60 11,452 19.8% -1.0 pts
- Boomers 61–79 8,731 15.1% -2.8 pts
Residents by birth cohort, from the 2025 age distribution. The right-hand figure is how far each cohort's share sits above or below Wisconsin, in percentage points. Children younger than Gen Z and the generations before the Boomers are counted in the population but not shown here, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
Male and female share
Women are 51.3% of the people living in Waukesha and men 48.7%.
- Women 51.3% Wisconsin 50.0%
- Men 48.7% Wisconsin 50.0%
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Economy
Waukesha has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Waukesha | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $82,762 | $77,698 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.46% | 4.41% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% | 3.2% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Waukesha is about 7% higher than in Wisconsin.
Housing
| Metric | Waukesha | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $416,491 | $170,479 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $1,229 | $1,087 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 58.9% | 67.8% | 65.2% |
The median home price in Waukesha is about 28.2 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,229 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Waukesha spend about 38 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 157 hours, about 6.5 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Waukesha | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 18.8 | 18.8 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 37.6 | 37.5 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 157 | 156 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,860 | $4,846 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 13.1% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 24,433 | 6,703 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,694 | 811 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in Waukesha is about the same as in Wisconsin.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Waukesha has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Waukesha | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.4% | 29.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.26 | 2.33 | 2.53 |
Health
Waukesha has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Waukesha | Wisconsin Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.8 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 10.9% | 13.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 15.7% | 18.5% | 19.0% |
Waukesha, WI Compared With Nearby Cities
How Waukesha, WI compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Median home price | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukesha, WI | 57,950 | $82,762 #3/3 | $416,491 #1/3 | 18.8 min #2/3 |
| Pewaukee, WI | 21,422 | $93,614 | $235,437 | 18.5 min |
| New Berlin, WI | 42,296 | $101,597 | $374,844 | 21.2 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Waukesha, Wisconsin.
How many people live in Waukesha, Wisconsin?
About 57,950 people live in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in 24,847 households of 2.3 people on average. The median age is 37.6, close to the U.S. median of 37.3.
How densely populated is Waukesha, Wisconsin?
Averaged over its land area, Waukesha, Wisconsin has 2,247 people per square mile, a density typical of urban and suburban areas. That is about 26 times the U.S. average of 86.
Is Waukesha, Wisconsin an affordable place to live?
The median home costs 5.0 times the median household income ($416,491 against $82,762), compared with 3.1 times nationally. A ratio of about 3 is traditionally considered affordable. Median rent of $1,229 a month takes about 18% of the median household's income, below the 30% level at which HUD considers renters cost-burdened.
How strong is the job market in Waukesha, Wisconsin?
Unemployment in Waukesha, Wisconsin is only 2.8%, well below the U.S. rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
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