What are the schools like in Middleton, WI?

Middleton is served primarily by Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.1:1.

What is the median household income in Middleton?

The median household income in Middleton, WI is $87,333 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.3%.

What is the weather like in Middleton, WI?

Middleton has an average high temperature of 26.5°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 38.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Middleton, WI affordable or expensive?

Middleton's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Middleton is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $438,700 and the median rent is $1,326 per month.

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

Middleton has a violent crime rate of 107.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 890.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Middleton, WI a Good Place to Live?

Middleton is a small city of 21,864 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $87,333 and a 2.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Middleton stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Middleton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Middleton 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: 95.8

Middleton's overall cost of living index is 95.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Middleton costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Middleton, WI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$438,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,326	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$87,333	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Middleton's violent crime rate is 107.1 per 100,000 residents — 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

107.1 /100k

Property Crime

890.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Middleton is served primarily by Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Middleton, WI	National Avg
School District	Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	64.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Middleton sees average highs of 26.5°F in January and 81.6°F in July, with 39.4 inches of annual precipitation and 38.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Middleton, WI
Average High — January	26.5°F
Average High — July	81.6°F
Annual Precipitation	39.4"
Annual Snowfall	38.5"

Demographics

Metric	Middleton, WI	National Avg
Population	21,864	—
Median Age	38.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.5%	18.9%
Asian	5.8%	6.3%
Under 18	19.7%	22.2%
65 and over	17.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Shorewood Hills, WI 3 mi Madison, WI 4 mi Waunakee, WI 6 mi Maple Bluff, WI 7 mi Cross Plains, WI 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Middleton

Middleton, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

53562

Middleton vs Other Cities

Middleton, WI vs Shorewood Hills, WI Middleton, WI vs Madison, WI Middleton, WI vs Waunakee, WI Middleton, WI vs Maple Bluff, WI Middleton, WI vs Cross Plains, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Middleton, WI affordable or expensive?

Middleton's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Middleton roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $438,700 and median rent is $1,326/month.

What is the crime rate in Middleton, WI?

Middleton's violent crime rate is 107.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 890.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Middleton?

Public schools in Middleton are operated by Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District. The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 64.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Middleton, WI a good place to live?

Middleton, WI has a population of 21,864, a median household income of $87,333, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%. 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 Middleton?

Middleton averages 26.5°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.4 inches with about 38.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Middleton?

Middleton, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 53562.

What is the population of Middleton?

The population of Middleton, Wisconsin is 21,864 with a median age of 38.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Middleton?

Key numbers for living in Middleton: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $438,700, median household income $87,333, crime index 34 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Middleton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.