Median Income
$62,514
household / year
Median Home Value
$156,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$820
gross / month
Cost of Living
92
national avg = 100

Is Menasha, WI a Good Place to Live?

Menasha is a small city of 18,125 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $62,514 and a 3.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Menasha 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 Menasha is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Menasha 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: 91.8

Menasha's overall cost of living index is 91.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Menasha costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric Menasha, WI National Avg
Median Home Value $156,900 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $820 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 64.2% 65.9%
Median Household Income $62,514 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Menasha's violent crime rate is 177.7 per 100,000 residents — 53% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
177.7 /100k
Property Crime
882.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Menasha is served primarily by Menasha Joint School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Menasha, WI National Avg
School District Menasha Joint School District
Elementary Schools 5
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 12.1:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 22.8% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 93.6% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Menasha sees average highs of 25.4°F in January and 81.5°F in July, with 34.0 inches of annual precipitation and 49.4 inches of snow per year.

MetricMenasha, WI
Average High — January25.4°F
Average High — July81.5°F
Annual Precipitation34.0"
Annual Snowfall49.4"

Demographics

MetricMenasha, WINational Avg
Population18,125
Median Age36.138.9
Unemployment Rate3.2%3.7%
Avg Commute Time19.9 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)82.3%59.3%
Black or African American1.8%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino8.9%18.9%
Asian2.6%6.3%
Under 1824.0%22.2%
65 and over12.6%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Menasha vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Menasha's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Menasha roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $156,900 and median rent is $820/month.
Menasha's violent crime rate is 177.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 882.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Menasha are operated by Menasha Joint School District. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 22.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Menasha, WI has a population of 18,125, a median household income of $62,514, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. 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.
Menasha averages 25.4°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.0 inches with about 49.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Menasha, Wisconsin is 18,125 with a median age of 36.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Menasha: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $156,900, median household income $62,514, crime index 45 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Menasha side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.