Wauwatosa, Wisconsin housing market

City in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Data-backed housing guide by Kinan Sawar, MD — REALTOR® at Shorewest, REALTORS®. Figures as of 2026-07-03.

Wauwatosa housing market at a glance (as of 2026-07-03)

Typical home value$429,884
1-year change+4.3%
5-year change+32.2%
Typical rent$1,697 per month
Gross rent yield+4.7%

The typical home in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin is worth about $429,884 as of 2026-07-03, up 4.3% over the past year and up 32.2% over five years. Source: Zillow Home Value Index, compiled by Sawar Homes.

Wauwatosa is Milwaukee County's clearest premium-but-attainable market: the typical home is worth about $430,000 — well above the county median of roughly $289,000, but meaningfully below top Waukesha County suburbs.

The trend is steady rather than spiking: values rose 4.3% over the past year and 32.2% over five years, tracking the strongest Milwaukee County suburbs almost exactly.

The Wauwatosa market in detail

Both of Wauwatosa's ZIP codes tell the same story — 53213 at about $432,000 and 53226 at about $411,000 — a tight spread that signals consistent demand across the city rather than a hot pocket carrying the average.

Rents are substantial: about $1,697 a month typical asking rent, up 1.0% on the year, for a gross rent yield near 4.7%. That yield is thin for pure cash-flow investors but supports strong resale liquidity — a large pool of renters who become local buyers.

Wauwatosa home values by ZIP code

ZIP codeTypical home value1-year changeTypical rent
53213$431,502+4.4%$1,739/mo
53226$411,350+4.1%$1,661/mo

What actually sold in Wauwatosa (12 months ending June 2026)

Homes sold (arms-length, single-family)663
Median sale price$410,000
Middle 50% of sales$335,000 to $515,500
Government-backed financing (FHA/VA/USDA)2.1%
Seller-financed0.2%

Over the 12 months ending June 2026, 663 single-family homes sold in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin in arms-length transactions, at a median price of $410,000. Half of those sales fell between $335,000 and $515,500. Source: Wisconsin Department of Revenue real estate transfer returns, compiled by Sawar Homes — every recorded sale, including for-sale-by-owner and builder-direct transactions that never appear in the MLS.

Zillow’s typical-home-value estimate for Wauwatosa is $429,884, while homes that actually changed hands had a median price of $410,000 — a difference of -4.6%. These measure different things, and neither is wrong: the index estimates the value of every home whether or not it sold, while the sale figure reflects only the homes that changed hands, which usually skew toward the more affordable end of the market.

Buying and selling in Wauwatosa

For buyers: Wauwatosa's tight ZIP-to-ZIP spread means fewer bargains from picking the 'cheaper side of town' — value comes from property-level factors and negotiation, which is where comparable-level data earns its keep.

For sellers: consistent citywide demand and a +4.3% year suggest well-priced homes move. The risk is under- or over-shooting a market that's moving — a current-data valuation removes the guesswork.

Life in Wauwatosa

Life in Tosa centers on the Village — a walkable historic core along the Menomonee River with restaurants, shops, and Hart Park's trails and green space next door. North Avenue's East Tosa strip adds a second dining corridor, and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus anchors the west side.

Annual events and festivities in Wauwatosa

TosaFest — September
The Village's signature street festival since 1976 — live music stages, beer gardens, and food along the Menomonee River; 2026 marks its 50th year.
Tosa Farmers Market — Saturdays, Jun–Oct
A busy Saturday-morning market in the Village with local produce, bakers, and makers.

Dates and details change year to year — check each event’s organizers for current schedules.

Wauwatosa housing market: common questions

How much is a house in Wauwatosa worth right now?

The typical Wauwatosa home is worth about $430,000 (Zillow, latest month) — around $432,000 in ZIP 53213 and $411,000 in 53226. A personal valuation pins down your specific property.

Are Wauwatosa home prices rising?

Yes — about 4.3% over the past year and 32.2% over the past five years.

How does Wauwatosa compare to the rest of Milwaukee County?

It sits well above the county's typical value (about $289,000), ranking among the county's higher-value municipalities, below villages like River Hills and Whitefish Bay.

More Milwaukee County area guides

All Southeast Wisconsin area guides

Wauwatosa real estate agent: talk to Kinan Sawar, MD

Kinan Sawar, MD — REALTOR® at Shorewest, REALTORS®, serving Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Racine, Kenosha, and Walworth counties). Email: [email protected] · Phone: (618) 713-2964.

How to choose a real estate agent in Wauwatosa and Milwaukee — a five-question checklist

Get a free Wauwatosa home valuation · Contact Kinan Sawar

Home values and rents are Zillow ZHVI/ZORI estimates for the named area, as of 2026-07-03; incomes and population are U.S. Census (SAIPE, Population Estimates); migration is IRS Statistics of Income. Area-level statistical estimates for information only — not an appraisal, and not financial, legal, or tax advice.