Overview
Milwaukee County is Wisconsin's most populous county, home to 927,656 residents (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). That puts it in the top 2% of all U.S. counties by population. It's also the youngest county in the state, with a median age of 35.4 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), lower than 91% of counties nationwide.
The county's labor force totals 453,496 workers (BLS LAUS, 2025), and its median household income sits at $62,118 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). That figure falls in the bottom 15% among Wisconsin counties, a notable gap for the state's economic center. The poverty rate, 17.1% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), ranks higher than 76% of U.S. counties and higher than 97% of Wisconsin counties. The numbers point to a county with significant economic activity and significant economic strain running in parallel.
Demographics
Milwaukee County is 35.4 years old at the median (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). Only 1% of Wisconsin counties skew younger. Nationally, it's younger than 91% of all counties.
The county is Wisconsin's most racially diverse. White residents make up 48.6% of the population, Black residents 25.6%, Hispanic residents 16.6%, and Asian residents 4.7% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). Native residents account for 0.3%. The Black population share is higher than 88% of U.S. counties; the Hispanic share higher than 84%; the Asian share higher than 94%.
Education attainment runs well above the national median. About 33.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), placing the county above 85% of U.S. counties and 86% of Wisconsin counties. The average commute is 19.4 minutes (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), shorter than roughly 73% of counties nationwide.
Education
Milwaukee County schools spend $17,863 per pupil (Education Data Portal, 2020), above the national average of roughly $15,000. Total enrollment reaches 121,000 students (Education Data Portal, 2021), putting it in the top 2% nationally.
The student-teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (Education Data Portal, 2021), close to the national average of about 15.5:1.
The graduation rate is where the picture shifts. At 74.6% (Education Data Portal, 2019), Milwaukee County falls well below the national average of roughly 87%. It ranks lower than 95% of U.S. counties and sits at the bottom of Wisconsin's counties. Spending is above average. Staffing ratios are typical. Outcomes are not. That gap between inputs and graduation rates is the central challenge facing Milwaukee County schools.
Economy & Employment
The unemployment rate stands at 3.5% (BLS LAUS, 2025), with 16,062 residents unemployed out of a labor force of 453,496. That rate is lower than 61% of U.S. counties, a solid position.
Median household income is $62,118 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), and per capita income is $36,955 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). Per capita income ranks above 66% of U.S. counties. But median household income lands in the bottom 15% of Wisconsin counties. Average adjusted gross income was $67,707 per return (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021), and average total income was $68,270 per return (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021).
The poverty rate is 17.1% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). That's higher than 76% of counties nationally and higher than 97% of Wisconsin counties. Nearly one in five residents lives below the poverty line. Employment numbers look healthy at the top line. The distribution of that economic activity is uneven.
Housing & Cost of Living
Median home value is $216,500 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), above 67% of U.S. counties. Median gross rent runs $1,069 per month (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), higher than 78% of counties nationwide and 89% of Wisconsin counties.
Fair market rents tell the fuller story. A studio apartment costs $1,027 per month; a one-bedroom, $1,119; a two-bedroom, $1,338; a three-bedroom, $1,648; and a four-bedroom, $1,784 (HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026). All of these figures rank in the top 15% to 20% nationally and among the highest in Wisconsin.
The county has 423,838 total housing units, with 34,792 sitting vacant, an 8.2% vacancy rate (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). That vacancy rate is lower than 82% of U.S. counties, meaning Milwaukee's housing stock is relatively occupied. With a median income of $62,118 and two-bedroom fair market rent at $1,338, a household spending 30% of income on rent could afford about $1,553 per month. The math works at the median, but it tightens quickly for the 17.1% of residents below the poverty line.
Health & Wellness
Obesity affects 38.8% of adults, and 12.4% have diabetes (CDC PLACES, 2023). Both figures rank in the top third of Wisconsin counties. High blood pressure is reported by 34.1% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023), higher than 61% of U.S. counties and 97% of Wisconsin counties.
Mental health metrics are comparatively better. The share reporting poor mental health days is 17.2%, and depression prevalence is 23.7% (CDC PLACES, 2023). Both land near the middle of the pack nationally.
About 10.8% of residents lack health insurance (CDC PLACES, 2023), placing Milwaukee County at the 97th position among Wisconsin counties for uninsured rates. Cholesterol screening reaches 84.6% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023), better than 77% of U.S. counties. Annual checkup rates hit 77.9% (CDC PLACES, 2023), higher than 81% of counties nationally and 99% of Wisconsin counties.
Poor physical health affects 13.4% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023). The county's health profile shows elevated chronic disease rates alongside relatively strong preventive care engagement.
Climate & Natural Disasters
Milwaukee County is cold. The annual average temperature is 48.8°F (NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025), with average highs of 57.2°F and average lows of 39.9°F. That's lower than 82% of U.S. counties for average high temperature. If you're relocating from somewhere with mild winters, the adjustment is real.
Snow defines the season. The county averages 35.1 inches annually (NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025), more than 80% of U.S. counties. Rainfall adds another 37.6 inches per year (NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025). It's a wet climate throughout, not just in winter.
FEMA has issued 22 federal disaster declarations here since 1969 (FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026). The pattern splits cleanly: flooding in the warmer months, heavy snow and severe storms the rest of the year. Seven declarations were for floods, four for snowstorms, and seven for severe storms. The most recent was a flood declaration in September 2025.
Summer storms have driven most of the federal response, with severe storm declarations in 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2010. Flooding has been just as persistent, with declarations in 1986 (twice in one summer), 2020, and 2025. The 2025 flood is a recent signal that the Milwaukee River basin's vulnerability hasn't been resolved.
Winter is the other half of the risk picture. Four snowstorm declarations since 1979 reflect a climate where major storms are routine, not rare. Older housing stock and aging infrastructure show the cumulative effects.
Financial Profile
Milwaukee County residents filed 446,770 tax returns reporting $30.2 billion in total adjusted gross income and $30.5 billion in total income (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021). Average AGI per return was $67,707, and average income per return was $68,270 (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021). Both figures rank near the middle of Wisconsin counties but above roughly 65% of U.S. counties.
Banking access is strong. The county has 58 FDIC-insured bank branches holding $3.7 billion in total deposits (FDIC Summary of Deposits, 2023). Branch count ranks above 92% of U.S. counties.
Social Security benefits reach 166,725 recipients (SSA OASDI, 2024), placing Milwaukee County in the top 2% nationally by beneficiary count. With a median age of 35.4, the county is young, but the sheer population size drives a large beneficiary pool. That's roughly 18% of the total population receiving OASDI benefits.
Key Comparisons
Milwaukee County consistently ranks at the extremes within Wisconsin. It's the most populous county, the youngest, the most racially diverse, and has the highest poverty rate. Within the state, its median household income of $62,118 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) sits in the bottom 15%, while its poverty rate of 17.1% exceeds 97% of other Wisconsin counties.
Nationally, the county presents a mixed picture. Education attainment (top 15%) and employment numbers (top 2% by labor force) suggest economic capacity. The poverty rate (top 24%) and graduation rate (bottom 5%) suggest that capacity isn't reaching everyone.
Housing costs rank in the top 15% to 25% nationally across all bedroom sizes. Rents are the highest in Wisconsin outside a handful of counties. Health metrics show chronic disease rates above the state median, paired with preventive care usage that outperforms most of the state.
The commute is short at 19.4 minutes, the workforce is large at 453,496, and unemployment is moderate at 3.5%. The income distribution is where the stress shows: a $62,118 median alongside a 17.1% poverty rate. Milwaukee County's challenge isn't a lack of economic activity. It's the gap between those who benefit from it and those who don't.
Data Sources
- Census ACS 5-Year, 2023 (population, income, housing, demographics, education attainment, commute, poverty)
- BLS LAUS, 2025 (unemployment, employment, labor force)
- CDC PLACES, 2023 (health metrics, insurance coverage)
- HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026 (fair market rents by bedroom count)
- FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026 (disaster declarations and history)
- IRS Statistics of Income, 2021 (tax returns, adjusted gross income, total income)
- FDIC Summary of Deposits, 2023 (bank branches, deposits)
- NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025 (temperature, precipitation, snowfall)
- SSA OASDI, 2024 (Social Security beneficiaries)
- Education Data Portal, 2019–2021 (per-pupil spending, enrollment, student-teacher ratio, graduation rate)