Waukesha and Oak Creek receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Waukesha
Oak Creek
Opportunity
74 · Top 15%
vs78 · Top 9%
Growth
51 · Top 48%
vs35 · Bottom 24%
Climate
61 · Bottom 18%
vs61 · Bottom 18%
Physical resilience
96 · Top 3%
vs98 · Top 1%
Housing affordability
91 · Top 29%
vs95 · Top 20%
Schools
55 · Top 45%
vs59 · Top 40%
Access
69 · Bottom 11%
vs65 · Bottom 9%
Economic stability
72 · Top 25%
vs81 · Top 6%
Measured values
| Metric | Waukesha | Oak Creek | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 71,233 | 37,325 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $83,837 | $96,555 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,943 | $48,445 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,791/sq mi | 1,312/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $315,500 | $331,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,219 | $1,452 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.8% | 57.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.3% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.7% | 39.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 4.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 114 | 40 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.6 | 1.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 72.7% | -82.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 34.6" | 34.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 56 mi | 62 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 24.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.7 | 39.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 27 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.49 | 15.91 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 41.7% | 44.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 37.2% | 43.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 39.3% | 34.3% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Full profiles: Waukesha, WI · Oak Creek, WI · How this is calculated: methodology