Home Insurance in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
The median home value in Milwaukee County is $230,700, 13% lower than the Wisconsin median.
The typical home in Milwaukee County was built around 1957. About 56% of homes were built before 1960, about 23 points above Wisconsin's 33%. Older homes can cost more to insure or rebuild because of aging wiring, roofing and plumbing.
The housing stock in Milwaukee County is 50% single-family homes and 28% apartments in buildings with 5+ units. The rest are 2-4 unit or other housing types.
About 65% of owner-occupied homes in Milwaukee County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
The vacancy rate is 8%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 50% of occupied homes in Milwaukee County are owner-occupied.
In Milwaukee County, 77% of homes are primarily heated with natural gas.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Milwaukee County's top hazards are tornado (Very High), inland flooding (Relatively High) and winter weather (Very High).
Milwaukee County had 1,390 active National Flood Insurance Program policies as of September 2026. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Wisconsin is $923 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $230,700 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1957 |
| Owner-occupied share | 50% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 65% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Tornado (Very High), Inland Flooding (Relatively High), Winter Weather (Very High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 1,390 |
| Home insurance premium | $923 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Bayside
- Brown Deer
- Fox Point
- Franklin
- Glendale
- Greendale
- Greenfield
- Hales Corners
- Milwaukee
- Oak Creek
- River Hills
- Shorewood
- South Milwaukee
- St. Francis
- West Allis
- West Milwaukee
- Whitefish Bay
Smaller communities
-
Cudahy
- Median home value: $216,500
- Median year built: 1962
- Owner-occupied share: 61%
-
Wauwatosa
- Median home value: $339,000
- Median year built: 1954
- Owner-occupied share: 61%
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)