Milwaukee County, Wisconsin: commercial real estate data.
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin has a population of 926,331 across 241 square miles, down 1.6 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $78.80 bn in 2024, 20,466 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 999 7(a) approvals worth $506.7 m.
123 sourced county values · tier FULL · 11 sections
Milwaukee County
How many people live in Milwaukee County
- Population926,331
- Households392,399
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$64,435
- Median age35.5
- Median gross rent$1,101 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$230,700
- Home value to household income3.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher34.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over619,605
- Population under 18219,441
- Share under 1823.7 percent
- Population 65 and over136,581
- Share 65 and over14.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64570,309
- Civilian labor force475,987
- Unemployment rate4.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over67.3 percent
- Rank by population among Wisconsin counties1st of 72
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents61st
Milwaukee County is the 1st largest of 72 Wisconsin counties by population. A median home costs 3.6 times median household income, which is an affordable ownership market by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.7 percent against 14.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Milwaukee County
Is Milwaukee County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.57 percent
- Census 2020 base population939,486
- Births, 202411,133
- Deaths, 20248,793
- Natural change, 20242,340
- Net domestic migration, 2024-5,604
- Net international migration, 20246,128
- Total net migration, 2024524
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-40,157
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2381st
The county has lost 1.57 percent of its population since the 2020 census base.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Milwaukee County
Where people moving to Milwaukee County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving17,589
- People arriving, from those returns25,657
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.17 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$66,513
- Largest single originMilwaukee County Non-migrants (357,239 households)
- Largest single destination (357,239 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee County Non-migrants | 357,239 | 681,306 | $26.81 bn |
| Waukesha County | 3,223 | 4,621 | $213.5 m |
| Other flows - Different State | 3,180 | 5,063 | $254.3 m |
| Other flows - South | 1,232 | 2,073 | $67.5 m |
| Other flows - Midwest | 975 | 1,462 | $54.4 m |
| Racine County | 973 | 1,410 | $52.0 m |
| Cook County | 897 | 1,353 | $70.5 m |
| Dane County | 841 | 1,002 | $45.8 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Milwaukee County Non-migrants, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Milwaukee County
What the Milwaukee County economy runs on
- County GDP, 2024$78.80 bn
- County GDP, 2023$74.90 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.2 percent
- GDP change over five years30.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among Wisconsin counties1st
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents66th
- GDP per resident$85,071
Output grew 5.2 percent in the latest year and 30.3 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Milwaukee County
Who employs people in Milwaukee County
- Covered employment, annual average469,055
- Establishments reporting29,416
- Average annual pay$69,142
- Average weekly wage$1,330
- Sector 62, employment94,837
- Sector 62, average annual pay$59,333
- Sector 31-33, employment47,202
- Sector 31-33, average annual pay$81,312
- Sector 72, employment38,784
- Sector 72, average annual pay$24,942
- Sector 44-45, employment37,613
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$37,343
- Sector 56, employment30,215
- Sector 54, employment22,977
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 62 | 94,837 | 10,848 | $59,333 |
| Sector 31-33 | 47,202 | 924 | $81,312 |
| Sector 72 | 38,784 | 2,097 | $24,942 |
| Sector 44-45 | 37,613 | 2,476 | $37,343 |
| Sector 56 | 30,215 | 1,268 | $42,723 |
| Sector 54 | 22,977 | 2,540 | $109,956 |
| Sector 52 | 21,192 | 1,114 | $143,466 |
| Sector 61 | 19,934 | 325 | $86,052 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 94,837 jobs, 20.2 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job exceeds median household income, which usually means single earner households and a wage base that can carry rent.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Milwaukee County
What businesses operate in Milwaukee County
- Establishments, all industries20,466
- Employment at those establishments435,400
- Annual payroll$30.47 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.1
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Milwaukee County
What is being built in Milwaukee County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 20241,005
- Declared construction value permitted$219.7 m
- Single family units authorised189
- Multifamily units authorised816
- Multifamily share of units81.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$218,574
- Units authorised per 1,000 households2.6
Multifamily is 81.2 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Milwaukee County
How much SBA lending happens in Milwaukee County
- 7(a) approvals recorded999
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$506.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$507,243
- Median 7(a) approval$190,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,330,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)11,445
- Jobs per approval11.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active103
- Distinct industries receiving approvals258
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer18.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms180
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter761
- Franchise loans108
- Franchise share of approvals10.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (54)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (127)
- 504 approvals recorded328
- 504 gross approval dollars$270.9 m
- Average 504 approval$825,817
- Median 504 approval$596,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval10.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.1
- Most active CDCWBD, Inc. (306)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals75.3 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$777.6 m
The average approval of $507,243 sits well above the median of $190,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. Only 18.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Milwaukee County
Do SBA loans in Milwaukee County get paid back
- Loans with a final outcome recorded202
- Paid in full184
- Charged off18
- Charge off rate on resolved loans8.9 percent
- Status: Paid in full184
- Status: Exempt from disclosure626
- Status: Cancelled124
- Status: Charged off18
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed47
| NAICS | Industry | Resolved loans | Charged off | Charge off rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 722513 | Limited-Service Restaurants | 12 | 3 | 25.0% |
Of the 202 loans that have reached a final outcome, 8.9 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong. Among industries with at least ten resolved loans, Limited-Service Restaurants carries the highest charge off rate at 25.0 percent.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Milwaukee County
Which parts of Milwaukee County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending23
- MILWAUKEE, approvals662
- Oak Creek, approvals59
- WEST ALLIS, approvals51
- WAUWATOSA, approvals46
- FRANKLIN, approvals45
- CUDAHY, approvals24
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| MILWAUKEE | 662 | $332,120,900 |
| Oak Creek | 59 | $35,065,000 |
| WEST ALLIS | 51 | $26,663,600 |
| WAUWATOSA | 46 | $22,428,000 |
| FRANKLIN | 45 | $25,283,500 |
| CUDAHY | 24 | $21,931,900 |
| HALES CORNERS | 17 | $4,579,000 |
| SOUTH MILWAUKEE | 15 | $4,393,000 |
MILWAUKEE accounts for 662 approvals against 59 in Oak Creek. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Milwaukee County
How big is Milwaukee County
- Land area241 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Wisconsin counties70th of 72
- Width, east to west12.3 mi
- Height, north to south24.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land3,844
- Establishments per square mile84.92
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- No NFIP communities are listed for this county in the FEMA Community Status Book.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a Milwaukee County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Milwaukee County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population926,331
- Households392,399
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$64,435
- Median age35.5
Common questions
Milwaukee County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin?
926,331, in 392,399 households, ranking 1st of 72 Wisconsin counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Milwaukee County growing?
The population has fallen 1.57 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 11,133 births against 8,793 deaths, with net migration of 524. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Milwaukee County?
$64,435. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $230,700, which is 3.6 times income, and median gross rent is $1,101 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are there in Milwaukee County?
20,466 establishments, employing 435,400 people with an annual payroll of $30.47 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in Milwaukee County?
Average annual pay is $69,142, or $1,330 a week, across 469,055 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Milwaukee County?
999 7(a) approvals totalling $506.7 m since FY2020, across 103 lenders, with a median approval of $190,000, plus 328 504 approvals worth $270.9 m. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Milwaukee County get paid back?
Of the 202 loans that have reached a final outcome, 184 were paid in full and 18 charged off, a charge off rate of 8.9 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
What is being built in Milwaukee County?
1,005 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $219.7 m. Multifamily was 81.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Milwaukee County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Milwaukee County come from?
The largest single origin is Milwaukee County Non-migrants, with 357,239 households. Arriving households report an average income of $66,513 against null for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Milwaukee County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Milwaukee County?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.