With the scenic beauty of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, the charming towns of Door County, and the vibrant cities like Milwaukee, there are many reasons why I love living in Wisconsin. If you are considering moving to Wisconsin, or you are looking to move to a new city, you probably have a budget that you’d like to stay when you’re looking for a place to live. As of April, the median home sales price for Wisconsin was $310,800.
Don’t worry if that price doesn’t fit in your budget. We have options that will help you find a home or apartment to do so. Redfin has compiled a list of nine of the most affordable places to live in Wisconsin. They all have median home selling prices under the state average. Dive in and take a look at the cities on your list.
#1: Racine
Median home price: $182,500
Average selling price per square foot: $153
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $0937
Median household income: $44,346
Nearest Major Metro: Milwaukee (30 miles)
Racine Wisconsin Home for Sale
Rental Apartments, Racine
The median home selling price is $182,500, making Racine number one on the list of affordable locations in Wisconsin. About 30 miles from the nearest subway, Milwaukee, Racine lives in around 77,800 people. Living in Racine offers views of Lake Michigan from Racine’s strangers and from Racine’s Breakwater Lighthouse. You can also spend a beach day at Racine North Beach or check out the shops, museums and restaurants in downtown Racine.
#2: Oshkosh
Median home price: $190,500
Average selling price per square foot: $141
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,325
Median household income: $51,282
Nearest Major Metro: Green Bay (50 miles)
Oshkosh, Wisconsin Home for Sale
Oshkosh, Wiscosia Apartments Rental
The second is Oshkosh, which currently houses around 66,800 residents. The median home sales price is $190,500, which is about $120,000 less than the median home sales in Wisconsin. If you’re visiting Asylum Point Lighthouse overlooking Lake Winnebago, grab a meal at one of the many waterfront restaurants and travel to the second most affordable city, visit one of the museums, such as the Paine Art Center and Gardens and the Oshkosh Public Museum.
#3: Milwaukee
Median home price: $214,500
Average selling price per square foot: $140
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,760
Median household income: $43,125
Home for Sale in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Apartments in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee ranked third on the list of affordable cities to live in Wisconsin. When you live in this city of 577,200 people, spend some time outside exploring Mitchell Park Domes, Lincoln Park and Haven Woods State Forest, or enjoy a day at McKinley Beach. If you visit a museum like the Milwaukee Museum, check out the Milwaukee Riverwalk district and visit the museum.
>>Read: Popular Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Neighborhoods
#4: Lacrosse
Median home price: $232,000
Average selling price per square foot: $178
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,150
Median household income: $43,125
Nearest Major Metro: Madison (140 miles)
Lacrosse, Wisconsin Homes Sales
Lacrosse, Wisconsin Apartments
A little more expensive than Milwaukee is the Lacrosse city. There are a few top attractions you might want to see in lacrosse. Check out Riverside Park along the Mississippi River, visit the iconic Grandad Bluff Park, which offers panoramic views of lacrosse, and explore museums such as the Dahlhaut Museum and the world’s largest 6-pack landmark.
#5: Kenosha
Median home price: $254,900
Average selling price per square foot: $177
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,700
Median household income: $56,113
Nearest Major Metro: Milwaukee (40 miles)
Home for Sale in Kenosha, Wisconsin
Apartments in Kenosha, Wisconsin
Another notable city on our list is Kenosha. Here we see that home prices are about $60,000 less than the state average. Kenosha has around 99,900 residents, making it the perfect city to consider living this year. The city has many activities, including finding the trails and scenery of Lake Michigan, and exploring the dunes of Kenosha that spend the day at Simmons Island Beach. You can also check out one of the other local favorites, including the Kenosha Public Museum, the Civil War Museum, and the Dinosaur Discovery Museum.
#6: West Sleep
Median home price: $255,250
Average selling price per square foot: $192
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,590
Median household income: $43,125
Nearest Major Metro: Milwaukee (7 miles)
West Allis, Wi Homes For Sale
West Allis, Wi Apartments for Rent
Considering moving to another great and affordable city is West Alice. Traveling to this affordable location with 60,300 residents will give you the perks of urban living without having to live in a metropolitan area. Visit McCarty Park, a West Squirrel resident, find McCarty Pond there, check out events at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center, or visit Milwaukee County Zoo.
James Bray via Getty Images
#7: Green Bay
Median home price: $265,000
Average selling price per square foot: $166
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $969
Median household income: $52,214
Nearest Major Metro: Milwaukee (117 miles)
Green Bay, Wisconsin Bay sales
Wisconsin Bay Apartments Rentals, Green Bay
With a population of about 107,400, Green Bay is the perfect place to consider moving to Wisconsin. Popularity in Green Bay include watching Green Bay Packers games at Lambeau Field, visiting outdoor spots such as Green Bay Botanical Garden and Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Centre, and exploring riverside restaurants, shops and museums.
#8: Janesville
Median home price: $278,650
Average selling price per square foot: $155
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,000
Median household income: $55,914
Nearest Major Metro: Madison (40 miles)
Janesville, Wisconsin sales
Apartments in Janesville, Wisconsin
If you’ve lived in Wisconsin for a while, you may know Janesville, the seventh city. Janesville, in southern Wisconsin, about 40 miles south of Madison, lives in around 65,600 people. Visit the Rotary Botanical Garden, which has over 20 acres of paths and gardens, visit the downtown area of Janesville, and hike the ice age trails that lived in Janesville.
#9: Appleton
Median home price: $281,500
Average selling price per square foot: $177
Average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment: $1,099
Median household income: $61,475
Nearest Major Metro: Green Bay (32 miles)
Appleton Wisconsin Home for Sale
Apartments for rent, Appleton
Appleton is ranked 8th on the list of affordable locations in Wisconsin. With a population of 75,600, Appleton is not as big as Wisconsin’s major metropolitan cities. If you find yourself moving to this city, check out museums such as Hearthstone History Museum and Castle History Museum, visit Sunset Park and explore Gordon Bovers Nature Preserve.
Methodology: Every city requires more than 50,000 residents per US census, and must have a median home selling price under the average Wisconsin median home selling price. Median home sales prices and median sales prices per square foot from Redfin Data Center in April 2025. Average rental data from April 2025. Median household income data from the population and US Census Bureau.
