Milwaukee

Most affordable Milwaukee suburbs

Ranked on what a household actually pays: the in-house cost-of-living index at 55%, the median home value against the metro at 25% (lower is better here), and the share of households already stretched by housing costs at 20%.

Updated Sep 2026·30 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
The Port Washington, WI Pierhead light, as viewed from Lake Michigan. Photo by Ray Meyer http://www.n9pby.com
Port Washington$296k median · 21.0 min commute
Cost of living BHousing D+Employment B−
69
Affordability
overall 65 C+
2
Oak Creek Parkway
South Milwaukee$236k median · 24.2 min commute
Cost of living B−Housing DEmployment C−
69
Affordability
overall 56 C−
3
West Allis City Hall in West Allis, Wisconsin (United States).
West Allis$204k median · 21.0 min commute
Cost of living BHousing FEmployment C−
68
Affordability
overall 58 C
4
The New Berlin Public Library in New Berlin, Wisconsin (United States).
New Berlin$366k median · 21.7 min commute
Cost of living B−Housing B−Employment B−
67
Affordability
overall 70 B−
5
Copyright 2007 Michael j Richter. View of downtown West Bend, Wisconsin. Aerial photo taken on 11 March 2007 from about 2000 feet above sea level looking north.
West Bend$263k median · 25.9 min commute
Cost of living B−Housing DEmployment C
65
Affordability
overall 61 C
6
Looking north at downtown Hartford, Wisconsin on Wisconsin Highway 83.
Hartford$297k median · 25.8 min commute
Cost of living BHousing D+Employment C+
64
Affordability
overall 60 C
7
South Packard Avenue - Cudahy
Cudahy$217k median · 23.3 min commute
Cost of living C+Housing D−Employment C
62
Affordability
overall 55 C−
8
The Greenfield Historical Society in Greenfield, Wisconsin (United States).
Greenfield$261k median · 22.2 min commute
Cost of living B−Housing DEmployment C
62
Affordability
overall 64 C+
9
Lisbon$415k median · 22.0 min commute
Cost of living C+Housing BEmployment B−
62
Affordability
overall 68 B−
10
Brown Deer$239k median · 22.4 min commute
Cost of living CHousing D+Employment C
62
Affordability
overall 58 C
This list's weighting
Cost of living 55%Median home value (lower is better) 25%Cost-burdened households 20%
Other Milwaukee lists
Best Milwaukee suburbs for familiesBest Milwaukee suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown MilwaukeeMost walkable Milwaukee suburbsBest Milwaukee suburbs for young professionalsHow we score Milwaukee suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Port Washington (Radon360 · Public domain); South Milwaukee (Bluebarb11 · CC BY-SA 3.0); West Allis (Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0); New Berlin (Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0); West Bend (Mjrichter · CC BY-SA 3.0); Hartford (Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 4.0); Cudahy (formulanone · CC BY-SA 2.0); Greenfield (Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0).