Median Age
42 Years
Largest Age Group
60-69 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
23%
Over 65
21%
South Milwaukee, WI
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$973
Population
18,938
Renter Mix
41% Rent
Join a close-knit community brimming with possibility
Suburban
•
Lakeside
•
Family-Friendly
South Milwaukee sits just 15 miles south of downtown Milwaukee along the Lake Michigan shoreline, giving it the feel of a self-contained city that still benefits from a major metro next door. The local economy has deep roots in manufacturing, with Bucyrus International -- now part of Caterpillar -- having shaped the city's industrial identity for more than a century. That heritage shows in the character of the streets: grounded, hardworking, and genuinely neighborly.
Day-to-day life here revolves around tight-knit residential blocks, a walkable downtown corridor along Milwaukee Avenue, and easy access to Lake Michigan at Bender Park. The broader South Milwaukee area feeds into the Oak Creek-Franklin and South Milwaukee school districts, and residents are a short commute from major employment hubs in Oak Creek and the greater Milwaukee metro. Neighboring communities like Cudahy and St. Francis are just minutes away.
The rental market reflects the city's modest, practical character. Housing is a mix of older single-family homes converted into duplexes, traditional apartment communities tucked into residential streets, and a small number of updated units in refurbished buildings near the commercial corridor. South Milwaukee holds an annual Fourth of July celebration that draws crowds from across the region, a tradition that underscores just how seriously this city takes its sense of community.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$64,897
Average: $80,905
Education
4,264
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
9,841
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
South Milwaukee has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
41%
Non-Renters
59%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
18%
Other Education
82%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in South Milwaukee, WI is $868 for a studio, $973 for one bedroom, $1,188 for two bedrooms, and $1,309 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in South Milwaukee has decreased by -4.5% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$973/month
740 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly South Milwaukee, WI is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
30
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
205 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
205 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
380 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
380 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
290 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
587 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
587 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
988 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
988 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- The Domes
- Jo-Don Farms
- Lakeshore State Park
- Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin
- Boerner Botanical Gardens
Airports
- General Mitchell International
Top Apartments in South Milwaukee
Houses for Rent in South Milwaukee
Living in South Milwaukee
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.