What are the schools like in Kiel, WI?

Kiel is served primarily by Kiel Area School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.9:1.

What is the median household income in Kiel?

The median household income in Kiel, WI is $71,019 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.2%.

What is the weather like in Kiel, WI?

Kiel has an average high temperature of 25.6°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 43.5 inches.

Kiel, WI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Kiel, WI affordable or expensive?

Kiel's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Kiel is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $149,400 and the median rent is $876 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Kiel, WI?

Kiel has a violent crime rate of 75.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 227.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Kiel, WI a Good Place to Live?

Kiel is a small town of 3,878 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $71,019 and a 2.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Kiel stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Kiel is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Kiel city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.1

Kiel's overall cost of living index is 92.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kiel costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Kiel, WI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$149,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$876	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$71,019	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Kiel's violent crime rate is 75.8 per 100,000 residents — 80% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

75.8 /100k

Property Crime

227.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Kiel is served primarily by Kiel Area School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Kiel, WI	National Avg
School District	Kiel Area School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kiel sees average highs of 25.6°F in January and 81.6°F in July, with 33.9 inches of annual precipitation and 43.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Kiel, WI
Average High — January	25.6°F
Average High — July	81.6°F
Annual Precipitation	33.9"
Annual Snowfall	43.5"

Demographics

Metric	Kiel, WI	National Avg
Population	3,878	—
Median Age	39.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	22.4%	22.2%
65 and over	15.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

New Holstein, WI 4 mi Elkhart Lake, WI 6 mi St. Nazianz, WI 8 mi Glenbeulah, WI 8 mi St. Cloud, WI 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Kiel

Kiel, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

53042

Kiel vs Other Cities

Kiel, WI vs New Holstein, WI Kiel, WI vs Elkhart Lake, WI Kiel, WI vs St. Nazianz, WI Kiel, WI vs Glenbeulah, WI Kiel, WI vs St. Cloud, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kiel, WI affordable or expensive?

Kiel's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Kiel roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $149,400 and median rent is $876/month.

What is the crime rate in Kiel, WI?

Kiel's violent crime rate is 75.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 227.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Kiel?

Public schools in Kiel are operated by Kiel Area School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 17.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Kiel, WI a good place to live?

Kiel, WI has a population of 3,878, a median household income of $71,019, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Kiel?

Kiel averages 25.6°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.9 inches with about 43.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Kiel?

Kiel, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 53042.

What is the population of Kiel?

The population of Kiel, Wisconsin is 3,878 with a median age of 39.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Kiel?

Key numbers for living in Kiel: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $149,400, median household income $71,019, crime index 16 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kiel side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.