What are the schools like in Racine, WI?

Racine is served primarily by Racine Unified School District. The district operates 15 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 6 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.3:1.

What is the median household income in Racine?

The median household income in Racine, WI is $52,766 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.0%.

What is the weather like in Racine, WI?

Racine has an average high temperature of 29.6°F in January and 78.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Racine, WI affordable or expensive?

Racine's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Racine is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $147,000 and the median rent is $967 per month.

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

Racine has a violent crime rate of 383.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1112.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Racine, WI a Good Place to Live?

Racine is a mid-sized city of 77,453 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $52,766 and a 6.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Racine 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: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Racine is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Racine 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: 92.8

Racine's overall cost of living index is 92.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Racine costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Racine, WI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$147,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$967	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,766	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Racine's violent crime rate is 383.0 per 100,000 residents — 1% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

383.0 /100k

Property Crime

1112.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Racine is served primarily by Racine Unified School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Racine, WI	National Avg
School District	Racine Unified School District	—
Elementary Schools	15	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	6	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Racine sees average highs of 29.6°F in January and 78.5°F in July, with 37.7 inches of annual precipitation and 41.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Racine, WI
Average High — January	29.6°F
Average High — July	78.5°F
Annual Precipitation	37.7"
Annual Snowfall	41.0"

Demographics

Metric	Racine, WI	National Avg
Population	77,453	—
Median Age	35.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	59.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	21.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	13.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	27.3%	22.2%
65 and over	13.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Elmwood Park, WI 2 mi North Bay, WI 3 mi Mount Pleasant, WI 4 mi Wind Point, WI 4 mi Sturtevant, WI 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Racine

Racine, WI is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

53405 53404

Racine vs Other Cities

Racine, WI vs Elmwood Park, WI Racine, WI vs North Bay, WI Racine, WI vs Mount Pleasant, WI Racine, WI vs Wind Point, WI Racine, WI vs Sturtevant, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Racine, WI affordable or expensive?

Racine's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Racine roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $147,000 and median rent is $967/month.

What is the crime rate in Racine, WI?

Racine's violent crime rate is 383.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1112.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Racine?

Public schools in Racine are operated by Racine Unified School District. The district has 15 elementary, several middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Racine, WI a good place to live?

Racine, WI has a population of 77,453, a median household income of $52,766, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%. 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 Racine?

Racine averages 29.6°F in January and 78.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.7 inches with about 41.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Racine?

Racine, WI is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 53405, 53404.

What is the population of Racine?

The population of Racine, Wisconsin is 77,453 with a median age of 35.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Racine?

Key numbers for living in Racine: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $147,000, median household income $52,766, crime index 82 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Racine side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.