Waukesha, WI vs Williams Bay, WI

Williams Bay is moderately more affordable than Waukesha, with a 10.4% lower cost of living index. Waukesha scores 99 compared to 90 for Williams Bay, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waukesha can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Waukesha is $1,167/month compared to $799/month in Williams Bay — a 46% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Williams Bay has cheaper rent, Waukesha actually has lower median home values ($375,700 vs $397,600).

Median household income in Waukesha is $126,286 compared to $70,568 in Williams Bay (+79%). While Waukesha is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Waukesha spend roughly 11.1% of their income on rent, less than the 13.6% in Williams Bay.