The Town FilesBrookfield, Wisconsin
City in Waukesha County · population 41,464 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $443,900
- Household income
- $129,548
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 43.8
Brookfield is a city of 41,464 people in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $443,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more upscale than 99% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 95% of Wisconsin towns.
How Brookfield ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Brookfield is worth $443,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $129,548, which is more affordable than 37% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,886 a month. 82.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brookfield | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $443,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,886 | $951 |
| Median household income | $129,548 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 82.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Brookfield
| People | Brookfield | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.6% | — |
| Work from home | 21.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Brookfield
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.5 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brookfield since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 27, 1984 about 4.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 173 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 101 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 13, 2006.
Severe weather in Waukesha County since 1996
Waukesha County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 11, 2025 | Flood | DR-4892: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Waukesha County
Waukesha County had 247,891 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,989 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Brookfield itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Brookfield
7 public schools with 5,645 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookfield East High | 9-12 | 1,398 | 16.8 |
| Brookfield Central High | 9-12 | 1,172 | 15.8 |
| Burleigh Elementary | PK-5 | 915 | 16.9 |
| Swanson Elementary | PK-5 | 806 | 15.5 |
| Brookfield Elementary | PK-5 | 676 | 16.9 |
| Dixon Elementary | PK-5 | 672 | 16.4 |
| Fairview South | 5-12 | 6 | 0.6 |
Towns near Brookfield
- Elm Grove, WI1.9 mi · 6,513 people · home $510,400
- Brookfield, WI3.3 mi · 6,477 people · home $374,500
- Wauwatosa, WI4.2 mi · 48,387 people · home $339,000
- West Allis, WI6.0 mi · 60,325 people · home $203,800
- Pewaukee, WI6.4 mi · 15,914 people · home $447,100
- New Berlin, WI6.4 mi · 40,451 people · home $365,700
- Menomonee Falls, WI6.6 mi · 38,527 people · home $368,000
- Pewaukee, WI7.2 mi · 8,238 people · home $281,800
Brookfield questions
Is Brookfield, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brookfield scores better for retirees than 70% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 10%. 23.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Brookfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Brookfield is valued at $443,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $129,548, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,886 a month.
What is the weather like in Brookfield?
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 39.5 inches of snow.
Does Brookfield get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brookfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 27, 1984. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)