Waukesha County
WI · Pop. 409,040 · Urban County
Waukesha County sits in Wisconsin across 550 square miles, home to 409,040 people at 743.7 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on corn, soybeans, hay. A median home price of $374,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.21% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 155-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.9°F and average winter lows of 13.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 34.6 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Ascension Wisconsin Hospital Waukesha Campus is 2.6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 96.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 96.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Ascension Wisconsin Hospital Waukesha Campus, with an emergency room, is just 2.6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 2.9% reflects a stable local job base.
- A low poverty rate of 5.2% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A 155-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- A median home price of $374,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- Average winter lows of 13.5°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
At a glance
Waukesha County, WI is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 31/100
- Median home price
- $374k
- Property tax
- 1.21%
- Growing season
- 155 days (zone 5b)
- Annual rainfall
- 34.6"
- Broadband
- 96.8%
- Nearest hospital
- Ascension Wisconsin Hospital Waukesha Campus, 2.6 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Waukesha County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Waukesha County?
- Waukesha County is in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 155-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.9°F, and average winter lows of 13.5°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $374,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.21%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 96.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Ascension Wisconsin Hospital Waukesha Campus is 2.6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 13 hospitals in the county.
Explore Wisconsin Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Wisconsin
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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