City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

West Allis, WI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for West Allis - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

59,588
Residents
$69,685
Median income
$191,700
Median home
$1,338
Median rent (state)

West Allis - the verdict

West Allis ranks in the 49th percentile for household income and the 27th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

49th
percentile, household income
40th
percentile, home value
49th
percentile, median rent
27th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: West Allis, WI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 59,588 residents in West Allis, a small city within Wisconsin. Median household income here is $69,685 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.0%. West Allis's housing stock carries a median value of $191,700, and the median resident age is 39.0 years. 29.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 64.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 250 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 117% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2234.0 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts West Allis's yearly average temperature at 49.1°F with 39.4 inches of precipitation per year and 52.3 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Wisconsin scores 94.1 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,338 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Wisconsin, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 98.4 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

59,588 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$69,685 /yr

Poverty 7.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does West Allis compare to other US cities?

West Allis measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 49% higher than other cities
Home value 40% pricier than other cities
Median rent 49% pricier than other cities
Safety 27% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Wisconsin, West Allis ranks #181 of 202 Wisconsin cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below West Allis's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Wisconsin, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

49thIncome percentile
27thSafety percentile

49th percentile nationally for median household income · 27th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

West Allis's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

West Allis's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 44 Avg. percentile National median
West Allis's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How West Allis's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$191,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 60% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. West Allis $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - West Allis, WI West Allis, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not West Allis, WI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution West Allis, WI median $69,685/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
West Allis, WI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for West Allis, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
59,588
Median Income
$69,685
Median Home Value
$191,700
Median Age
39.0
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Labor force participation
64.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2234.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
256.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1977.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.1°F
Annual Precipitation
39.4"
Annual Snowfall
52.3"

Schools

Total Schools
16
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
59,000 residents59,500 residents60,000 residents60,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 60,258 residents 60,119 residents ▼ -0.2%
West Allis's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
250
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
250
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2022 115
2023 247
2024 250

Permit volume increased 117% from 2022 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.0%
Carpool
6.3%
Public Transit
3.6%
Walk
1.4%
Work from Home
8.6%
Other
1.1%

Based on 30,637 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Wisconsin - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Wisconsin state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Wisconsin state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county West Allis sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,338/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Janesville
65,813 people
Oshkosh
66,247 people
La Crosse
51,791 people
Eau Claire
69,274 people
Sheboygan
49,812 people
Waukesha
70,779 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to West Allis's 59,588 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Youngstown, OH
59,605 people
Monterey Park, CA
59,639 people
Santee, CA
59,485 people
Taunton, MA
59,719 people
North Miami, FL
59,429 people
Mayagüez zona urbana, PR
59,427 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to West Allis's $69,685 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Haralson, GA
$69,688 median income
Gridley, IL
$69,688 median income
Randall, IA
$69,688 median income
Church Hill, MD
$69,688 median income
Hayfield, MN
$69,688 median income
Saddle Butte, MT
$69,688 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - West Allis, WI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition West Allis, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 74.5% 6.3% 10.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 16.0% White 74.5% Black or African American 6.3% Asian 3.0% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.9% Two or more races 10.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How West Allis compares to nearby Wisconsin cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
West Allis (this city) 59,588 $69,685
Janesville 65,813 $71,664
Oshkosh 66,247 $61,929
La Crosse 51,791 $53,803
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about West Allis, WI?

What is the population of West Allis, WI? +

59,588 people live in West Allis, WI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in West Allis, WI? +

Median annual household income in West Allis runs $69,685, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in West Allis? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for West Allis; the closest available measure is the Wisconsin state average, a cost of living index of 94.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Wisconsin vary by metro area.

Is West Allis, WI safe? +

West Allis has a total crime rate of 2234.0 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in West Allis, WI? +

A typical home in West Allis is worth $191,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in West Allis? +

Climate normals put West Allis's yearly average temperature at 49.1°F, 39.4 inches of precipitation, and 52.3 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.