Home to scenic Lakes Michigan and Superior, Door County’s charming small towns and vibrant cities such as Milwaukee, there are many reasons to love living in Wisconsin. If you’ve been thinking about moving to Wisconsin or want to move to a new city, you probably also have a budget when it comes to finding accommodations. As of July, Wisconsin median home sales price It’s $323,900.
If that price doesn’t fit your budget, don’t worry – we have a variety of options to help you find a house or apartment that fits your budget. Redfin has compiled a list of the 10 best places to live in Wisconsin where the median home sale price is lower than the state average. Let’s take a look at which cities are on the list.
#1: Racine
Median house price: $190,500 Average sales price per square foot: $133 Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $840 Median household income: $44,346 Nearest major metro: Milwaukee (30 miles) Racine, WI Homes for Sale Racine, WI Apartments for Rent
With a median home sale price of $190,500, Racine ranks No. 1 on our list of affordable places to live in Wisconsin. Racine is about 30 miles from the nearest metro, Milwaukee, and is home to about 77,800 people. When staying in Racine, you can enjoy views of Lake Michigan from the Racine Overlook or the Racine Breakwater Lighthouse. You can also spend a beach day at Racine North Beach and visit the shops, museums, and restaurants of downtown Racine.
#2: Oshkosh
Median house price: $220,000 Average sales price per square foot: $148 Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $899 Median household income: $51,282 Nearest major metro: Green Bay (50 miles) Oshkow, WI Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent in Oshkosh, WI
Next is Oshkosh, currently home to approximately 66,800 residents. The median home sale is $220,000, about $120,000 lower than the Wisconsin median home sale. If you’re moving to the second-cheapest city, be sure to visit the Shelter Point Lighthouse overlooking Lake Winnebago, enjoy a meal at one of the many waterfront restaurants, and visit the Paine Center for the Arts and Gardens or the Oshkosh Commons One of the museums and other museums.
#3: Milwaukee
Median house price: $220,000 Average sales price per square foot: $149 Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,480 Median household income: $43,125 Milwaukee, WI Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent in Milwaukee, WI
Number three on the list of affordable cities to live in Wisconsin is Milwaukee. Living in this city of 577,200 people, you can get outdoors and explore Mitchell Park Dome, Lincoln Park and Haven Woods State Forest, or enjoy a day at McKinley Beach. Be sure to visit the Milwaukee Riverfront and check out the museums and more Milwaukee Art Museum If you move to Milwaukee.
#4: Lacrosse
Median house price: $253,750 Average sales price per square foot: $180 Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $849 Median household income: $43,125 Nearest major metro: Madison (140 miles) La Crosse, WI Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent in La Crosse, WI
A little more expensive than Milwaukee is La Crosse. There are several popular attractions in La Crosse that you may want to visit. Be sure to visit Riverside Park, located along the Mississippi River, visit the iconic Grand Bluff Park, take in panoramic views of La Crosse, explore museums and more Dahl Automobile Museum Or the world’s largest six-pack landmark.
#5: Kenosha
Median house price: $263,000 Average sales price per square foot: $176 Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,044 Median household income: $56,113 Nearest major metro: Milwaukee (40 miles) Kenosha, WI Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent in Kenosha, WI
Another notable city on our list is Kenosha, where you’ll find home prices about $80,000 less than the state average. With approximately 99,900 residents, Kenosha is a great city to consider living in this year. There are many things to do in the city, such as exploring the Kenosha Dunes, where you can find trails and enjoy views of Lake Michigan, or spend a day at Simons Island Beach. You can also visit one of the museums e.g. Kenosha Public Museumthis Civil War Museumor Dinosaur Discovery Museumas well as many other local favorites.
#6: Green Bay
Median house price: $275,000 Average sales price per square foot: $160 Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $899 Median household income: $52,214 Nearest major metro: Milwaukee (117 miles) Green Bay, WI Homes for Sale Green Bay, WI Apartments for Rent
With a population of approximately 107,400 people, Green Bay is a great place in Wisconsin to consider relocating to. Popular Green Bay attractions include attending a Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field and visiting outdoor attractions such as green bay botanical garden, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Centerand explore riverside restaurants, shops, and museums.
#7: Janesville
Median house price: $275,000 Average sales price per square foot: $165 Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,034 Median household income: $55,914 Nearest major metro: Madison (40 miles) Janesville, WI Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent in Janesville, WI
If you’ve lived in Wisconsin for a while, you probably know our seventh city – Janesville. About 65,600 people live in Janesville in southern Wisconsin, about 40 miles south of Madison. Please be sure to visit rotating botanical garden With over 20 acres of trails and gardens, visit Janesville’s downtown area and hike the Ice Age Trail where Janesville once lived.
James Brey via Getty Images
#8: Appleton
Median house price: $282,450 USD Average sales price per square foot: $161 Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,325 Median household income: $61,475 Nearest major metro: Green Bay (32 miles) Appleton, WI Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent in Appleton, WI
Appleton ranks eighth on the list of affordable places to live in Wisconsin. With a population of nearly 75,600, Appleton is a very livable area, but it is not as large as Wisconsin’s major metropolitan areas. If you find yourself moving to the city, be sure to visit the museums, e.g. Hearthstone Historical Home Museum and Castle History Museumvisit Sunset Park, and explore the Gordon Bubbles Nature Preserve.
#9: West Allis
Median house price: $285,000 Average sales price per square foot: $192 Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $995 Median household income: $43,125 Nearest major metro: Milwaukee (7 miles) West Allis, WI Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent in West Allis, WI
Another affordable city worth considering moving to is West Allis. Home to 60,300 residents, moving to this affordable location means you don’t have to live in a metropolitan area to enjoy the conveniences of city life. While staying in West Allis, you can visit McCarty Park where you can find McCarty Pond, check out the events at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Exhibition Center, and visit Milwaukee County Zoo Right here in Milwaukee.
#10: Clear Water
Median house price: $308,000 Average sales price per square foot: $160 Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $795 Median household income: $59,705 Nearest major metro: Minneapolis (95 miles) Homes for Sale in Eau Claire, WI Apartments for Rent in Eau Claire, WI
The final city to make the list of the most affordable places to live in Wisconsin is Eau Claire. In this city of 69,400, you can visit lakeside Carson Park, which has walking trails and a local history museum, stroll through downtown Eau Claire, and visit the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus. Living in Eau Claire, there’s always something worth seeing.
method: According to the U.S. Census, all cities must have more than 50,000 residents and have a median home sales price below the average median home sales price in Wisconsin. Median home sales and median sales price per square foot Red Fin Information Center Average rent data for the period July 2024 rental network July 2023. U.S. Census Bureau.
