Below Average CostSafer than AverageOshkosh Area School District
Downtown Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 2006 · self / CC BY-SA 2.5FoxRiverMouthOshkosh · The original uploader was Royalbroil at English Wikipedia. / CC BY-SA 2.5North Main Street Bungalow District Oshkosh · Jeff the quiet / CC0OshkoshPublicMuseum · The original uploader was Royalbroil at English Wikipedia. / CC BY-SA 2.5
Oshkosh is a mid-sized city of 66,373 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $59,186
and a 2.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Oshkosh 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 Oshkosh is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Oshkosh 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: 92.2
Oshkosh's overall cost of living index is 92.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Oshkosh costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Oshkosh, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$156,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$860
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
55.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$59,186
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Oshkosh's violent crime rate is 231.8 per 100,000 residents
— 39% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
231.8 /100k
Property Crime
1451.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Oshkosh is served primarily by Oshkosh Area School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Oshkosh, WI
National Avg
School District
Oshkosh Area School District
—
Elementary Schools
11
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
27.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Oshkosh sees average highs of 26.1°F in January
and 81.7°F in July,
with 33.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.2 inches of snow per year.
Oshkosh's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Oshkosh roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $156,900 and median rent is $860/month.
Oshkosh's violent crime rate is 231.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1451.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Oshkosh are operated by Oshkosh Area School District.
The district has 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 27.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Oshkosh, WI has a population of 66,373, a median household income of $59,186, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%.
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.
Oshkosh averages 26.1°F in January and 81.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.3 inches
with about 39.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Oshkosh, WI is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 54901, 54902, 54904, 54985.
The population of Oshkosh, Wisconsin is 66,373 with a median age of 34.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Oshkosh: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $156,900, median household income $59,186, crime index 64 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Oshkosh side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
