The Town FilesSouth Milwaukee, Wisconsin
City in Milwaukee County · population 20,795 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $235,700
- Household income
- $73,427
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 40.2
South Milwaukee is a city of 20,795 people in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $235,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 95% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 95% of Wisconsin towns.
How South Milwaukee 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 South Milwaukee is worth $235,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $73,427, which is more affordable than 48% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,014 a month. 66.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Milwaukee | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,014 | $951 |
| Median household income | $73,427 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 66.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in South Milwaukee
| People | South Milwaukee | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in South Milwaukee
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 36.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Milwaukee since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 25, 1975 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 2, 2015.
Severe weather in Milwaukee County since 1996
Milwaukee County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| March 11, 2020 | Flood | DR-4477: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Milwaukee County
Milwaukee County had 469,055 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,142 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in South Milwaukee itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in South Milwaukee
6 public schools with 2,783 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Milwaukee High | 9-12 | 979 | 14.2 |
| South Milwaukee Middle | 6-8 | 605 | 12.3 |
| Rawson Elementary | PK-5 | 379 | 13.5 |
| Blakewood Elementary | PK-5 | 326 | 13.6 |
| Lakeview Elementary | PK-5 | 284 | 11.4 |
| E W Luther Elementary | PK-5 | 210 | 14.0 |
Towns near South Milwaukee
- Cudahy, WI2.4 mi · 18,204 people · home $216,500
- Oak Creek, WI3.0 mi · 36,497 people · home $331,700
- St. Francis, WI4.1 mi · 9,161 people · home $234,500
- Greendale, WI7.3 mi · 14,854 people · home $314,200
- Franklin, WI7.8 mi · 36,816 people · home $364,200
- Greenfield, WI8.0 mi · 37,803 people · home $261,100
- Caledonia, WI8.0 mi · 25,361 people · home $303,400
- West Milwaukee, WI8.8 mi · 4,114 people · home $207,400
South Milwaukee questions
Is South Milwaukee, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Milwaukee scores better for retirees than 10% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 2%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in South Milwaukee?
The median owner-occupied home in South Milwaukee is valued at $235,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,427, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,014 a month.
What is the weather like in South Milwaukee?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 48.7 inches of snow.
Does South Milwaukee get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Milwaukee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 25, 1975. 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)