FHFA House Price Index
612.8
2025 · FHFA all-transactions index
Median value of owner-occupied homes
$294,700
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Rent of primary residence index (Midwest region)
371.5
2025 · BLS CPI-U
Total housing units
2,820,538
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
New private housing units authorized
25,202
2025 · Census Building Permits Survey
Homeownership rate (CPS/HVS)
67.7%
2025 · Census Housing Vacancy Survey
Housing price level vs U.S. (RPP rents)
79.3
2024 · BEA Regional Price Parities
Rental vacancy rate
7.1%
2025 · Census Housing Vacancy Survey
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Median home value
1950–2023$286,000▲ 3431%
Census / Zillow ZHVI, nominal dollars.
Home Prices
Sale prices and trends.
FHFA House Price Index
612.8
2025 · FHFA all-transactions index
Median sale price
$310,000
5-year change
+45%
FHFA House Price Index
1975–2025612.8▲ 849%
FHFA all-transactions index, annual average of quarters. Source: FHFA via FRED (WISTHPI).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price (USD) | 310000 | 412000 |
- •Wisconsin's for-sale inventory remains historically tight, keeping days on market short even after interest-rate hikes.
Median Home Value
Typical value of owner-occupied homes.
Median value of owner-occupied homes
$294,700
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Median home value
$268,600
Rank
27th in the U.S.
5-year change
+47%
Median value of owner-occupied homes
2008–2024$294,700▲ 70%
Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B25077 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (USD) | 268600 | 359000 |
- •Home values in Dane County run roughly 50% above the statewide median.
Rent Prices
Cost of renting.
Rent of primary residence index (Midwest region)
371.5
2025 · BLS CPI-U
Median gross rent
$1,050
Renter households
32.9%
Rent-burdened renters
43%
Rent of primary residence index (Midwest region)
2006–2025371.5▲ 81%
BLS CPI-U, Midwest region, annual average (CUUR0200SEHA).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent (USD/mo) | 1050 | 1406 |
- •Madison is the most expensive rental market in Wisconsin, clearly above Milwaukee.
Housing Inventory
Total housing stock.
Total housing units
2,820,538
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Vacant housing units
10.1%
2024 · Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates
Single-family share
70%
Built since 2000
17%
Total housing units
2008–20242,820,538▲ 10%
Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B25001 (2020 not released).
Vacant housing units
2008–202410.1%
Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B25002 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Total housing units (M) | 2.8 | 145.3 |
- •Wisconsin has more than 190,000 seasonal or vacation homes, mostly in the northern lake counties.
Building Permits
New residential construction.
New private housing units authorized
25,202
2025 · Census Building Permits Survey
Permits per 1,000
3.4
Trend
Below demand
New private housing units authorized
1988–202525,202▲ 4%
Census Building Permits Survey, sum of 12 months (FRED WIBPPRIV).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.4 | 4.4 |
- •Wisconsin permits roughly 20,000 new homes a year, well short of its 1990s and 2000s pace.
Homeownership Rate
Share of owner-occupied homes.
Homeownership rate (CPS/HVS)
67.7%
2025 · Census Housing Vacancy Survey
Homeownership rate
67.1%
Rank
17th in the U.S.
Renter households
32.9%
Homeownership rate (CPS/HVS)
1984–202567.7%
Census Housing Vacancy Survey, annual (FRED WIHOWN).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Homeownership rate (%) | 67.1 | 65.7 |
- •Wisconsin's homeownership rate is above the U.S. average, yet Milwaukee's is among the lowest of any large American city.
Housing Affordability
Home cost relative to income.
Housing price level vs U.S. (RPP rents)
79.3
2024 · BEA Regional Price Parities
Home value-to-income ratio
3.6
Median home value
$268,600
Median household income
$75,670
Housing price level vs U.S. (RPP rents)
2008–202479.3▼ 6%
BEA Regional Price Parities, housing services (SARPP line 3).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Housing price level vs U.S. (RPP rents)2024, BEA Regional Price Parities | 79.3 | 100 |
| Home value-to-income ratio | 3.6 | 4.7 |
- •With a value-to-income ratio near 3.6, Wisconsin housing is more affordable than the U.S. as a whole.
Vacancy Rate
Share of unoccupied units.
Rental vacancy rate
7.1%
2025 · Census Housing Vacancy Survey
Homeowner vacancy rate
0.6%
2025 · Census Housing Vacancy Survey
Overall vacancy
12.5%
Rental vacancy
5.0%
Homeowner vacancy
0.8%
Rental vacancy rate
1986–20257.1%
Census Housing Vacancy Survey, annual (FRED WIRVAC).
Homeowner vacancy rate
1986–20250.6%
Census Housing Vacancy Survey, annual (FRED WIHVAC).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vacancy rate (%) | 12.5 | 10.6 |
- •Wisconsin's headline vacancy rate is inflated by cabins and lake cottages counted as vacant seasonal housing.
More figures
Median home value
$286,000
Median monthly rent
$1,050
2023
Homeownership rate
67.9%
Total housing units
2.8 M
Vacancy rate
10.8%
Includes northern vacation homes
Building permits
≈ 20,000
2023
Effective property tax
1.53%
Among the highest in the U.S.
Homes built before 1970
44%