Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Wauwatosa, WI

    Is Wauwatosa a good place to live?

    Watch Wauwatosa

    Wauwatosa ranks #10 of 35 Wisconsin cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (61/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.4% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $307,600
    +5.5% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,373
    per month
    Household income
    $93,859
    median
    Unemployment
    2.0%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Wauwatosa

    The median home value in Wauwatosa is $307,600 and median rent is $1,373 a month, against a median household income of $93,859. Homes cost about 3.3× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Wauwatosa crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Wisconsin the 2025 rate was 245 violent and 1,033 property crimes per 100,000 people — #45 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Wauwatosa, WI

    Wauwatosa has about 47,718 residents, 2.0% unemployment and 37% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Wauwatosa with

    Wauwatosa vs MilwaukeeWauwatosa vs MadisonWauwatosa vs Green BayWauwatosa vs KenoshaWauwatosa vs RacineWauwatosa vs AppletonWauwatosa vs WaukeshaWauwatosa vs Eau Claire

    More: Where to move in Wisconsin · Best counties in Wisconsin

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report