C

Wautoma, WI

Source:

Affordability Score: 57/100

Population: 7,117 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Wautoma, WI aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 7,117 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C (57/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $64,201, median home value of $203,100, median rent of $820 per month, and 21.6% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $973 per month (studio $691, 1BR $742, 3BR $1,291, 4BR $1,493). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $9,464 per year, consuming 15% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Wautoma, WI include rent. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 5.1% and poverty 14.7% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C-
$64,201
Median household income
Education F
21.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C+
3.2x
Home value $203,100 vs income
Commute C-
25 min
Average commute time
Rent A-
$973/mo
2BR fair market rent (18% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C-
$9,464/yr
Center-based infant care (15% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$64,201
▲ 4% vs national
Per Capita Income
$52,444
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Poverty Rate
14.7%

Housing

Median Home Value
$203,100
▼ 26% vs national
Median Rent
$820/mo
Owner Occupied
81.5%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$973/mo
▼ 19% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$691
1BR
$742
2BR
$973
3BR
$1,291
4BR
$1,493

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
21.6%
▼ 8 ppt vs national
High School+
60.8%
Median Age
51.8
Avg. Commute
25 min
▼ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$9,464/yr
15% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,840/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,840/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,956/yr

What This Means

Wautoma, WI receives an overall affordability grade of C (57/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 7,117. This area performs well in rent. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Wautoma ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Wautoma, WI affordable?
Wautoma, WI receives an overall affordability grade of C (57/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $64,201. Median home value is $203,100.
What is the cost of living in Wautoma?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $820/mo. 2BR fair market rent $973/mo. Infant childcare $9,464/yr. Median home value $203,100.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →