Kenosha, WI Housing Market
AI-powered market intelligence for the Kenosha, WI metro area.
PropertyIQ Scores
Kenosha, WI Market Analysis
Market Overview
Kenosha’s residential real estate market is exhibiting exceptional strength, earning a PropertyIQ Score of 93 out of 100. This near-perfect rating is driven primarily by a median days-on-market of just 26 days and an unusually low share of listings with a price cut, sitting at a mere 6.2 percent. When placed beside state benchmarks, the market’s premium position becomes clear. The median home value in Kenosha stands at $411,200, significantly outpacing the statewide median of $339,653. On the rental side, the rent index of $1,175 comfortably exceeds the state average of $1,045, signaling robust demand across both ownership and leasing. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate matches the state figure of 3.4 percent, providing a steady economic foundation that underpins housing activity.
A deeper look at the numbers reinforces this narrative of a tight, seller-favorable environment. Total homes for sale number just 314, a relatively thin inventory for a community where the median household income is $79,412—about 5 percent above the state’s $75,670. The current days-on-market reading of 29 days, closely aligned with the score-driver figure of 26, confirms that properties are being absorbed at a brisk pace. Very few sellers feel compelled to reduce their asking prices, and the combination of limited supply and quick turnover has created pronounced competition among buyers. In summary, Kenosha’s housing market is operating well above state norms, with elevated home values, strong rents, and liquidity metrics that point to persistent pressure from demand outpacing supply.
Key Trends
One of the most prominent trends is the pace of price appreciation. Over the past year, the median home value rose by $11,000, a sizable absolute gain that widens the gap between Kenosha and the broader state market. When you consider that the state’s entire median value is $339,653, that incremental gain alone underscores how localized demand is pushing values higher at an above-average clip. This appreciation trajectory is being sustained by an environment where sellers rarely need to offer discounts. The share of listings with a price cut, 6.2 percent, is a telling indicator of just how tilted the market remains toward sellers. In many balanced markets, price reductions occur on a fifth to a third of listings; Kenosha’s single-digit figure leaves no doubt that buyer competition is absorbing available homes at or near asking prices almost immediately.
Affordability dynamics present a more nuanced storyline. While median household income in Kenosha surpasses the state level, the home value premium is considerably larger. The resulting price-to-income ratio sits at roughly 5.2, compared to the state’s ratio of about 4.5. This suggests that local buyers are stretching further relative to their incomes, a condition that could eventually moderate demand if wages do not keep pace with future price growth. The rent index of $1,175 adds another layer: renting is also more expensive than in much of the state, which may push households toward homeownership despite the higher entry cost, while still putting pressure on household budgets. Inventory tightness remains the thread tying these trends together. With only 314 homes on the market and days-on-market hovering under a month, the pipeline of available properties is exceptionally lean. Population growth data is unavailable, making it impossible to say whether in-migration is fueling the tightness, but even in a stable population scenario, such limited inventory points to deep-rooted supply constraints.
Who Is This Market For
Given its premium price points and competitive dynamics, Kenosha’s market is best suited for buyers and investors who can move decisively and command strong financial footing. Move-up buyers with significant equity from a prior sale are well-positioned to navigate the $411,200 median home value and the quick contract timelines implied by a 26-day median days-on-market. These buyers are often less sensitive to the elevated price-to-income ratio because they bring a substantial down payment, allowing them to compete effectively in a setting where price cuts are exceptionally rare.
First-time buyers may face a steeper climb. Although median household income in Kenosha runs ahead of the state average, the home value premium outpaces the income advantage, making it harder to save for a down payment and qualify for a mortgage without stretching. The rent index of $1,175 adds further urgency, as tenants looking to escape rising rents may be motivated to buy but will need solid financial preparation to succeed in bidding situations. For real estate investors, the market offers a combination of stability and cash flow potential. The unemployment rate of 3.4 percent anchors tenant reliability, while the rent index provides a baseline for income underwriting. The extremely low share of price cuts and rapid absorption of listings also suggest that well-priced rental properties are likely to experience minimal vacancy, although direct vacancy data is not available. Investors pursuing long-term appreciation and steady rent collections will find Kenosha’s PropertyIQ Score of 93 reassuring, as it signals a durable, high-demand environment with limited downside risk.
Outlook
The near-term trajectory for Kenosha remains firmly tilted to the upside, anchored by the same forces that produced its standout PropertyIQ Score. The $11,000 year-over-year home value increase, combined with a median days-on-market of well under a month, indicates that buyer urgency has not waned. With only 314 homes available for sale and a minuscule 6.2 percent of listings taking a price cut, sellers are likely to retain the upper hand until inventory sees a meaningful increase. The stable unemployment rate of 3.4 percent provides a supportive economic backdrop, as does a median household income that, while stretched relative to home prices, has not yet shown signs of undermining purchasing activity.
That said, the stretched price-to-income ratio is a factor to monitor. Should home values continue to rise at a pace that outdistances income growth, the pool of qualified buyers could begin to narrow, potentially easing the feverish sales pace. The lack of population growth data limits a more precise forecast, but internal demand metrics—such as the low days-on-market and minimal discounting—suggest the market is generating sufficient activity on its own. Absent an external shock, conditions point to a continuation of elevated home values and rapid turnover. Kenosha appears set to remain a muscular seller’s market, with any moderation most likely to come from the affordability side rather than a sudden shift in demand.
AI-generated analysis based on current market data. Last updated July 10, 2026.
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Kenosha, WI market data
Kenosha, WI Housing Market Overview
Kenosha, WI's median home value is $248K. Homes here sell in a median 26 days. Its PropertyIQ Score of 93 sits well above the state average of 50, marking a market positioned to outperform its state over the next three years.
Understanding the Kenosha, WI housing market requires looking beyond headline price figures. The PropertyIQ Score reads both sides of market strength: Zillow price momentum across 3- and 12-month windows, and Realtor.com flow signals — days on market and the share of listings with price cuts. Together they predict how this WI metro is set to perform relative to the rest of its state.
Midwestern housing markets are characterized by affordability and economic diversification. From manufacturing hubs undergoing tech-sector transitions to university towns with stable demand, the region offers value-oriented opportunities with lower entry costs than coastal markets. Within the Midwest, Kenosha, WI's PropertyIQ Score of 93 ranks among the Midwest's stronger demand signals.
The PropertyIQ Score for the Kenosha, WI market is built from four inputs: Zillow home-value momentum over twelve months, Zillow home-value momentum over three months, the median days listings spend on the market (Realtor.com), and the share of listings with a price cut (Realtor.com). The score runs on a 1 to 99 scale computed across all metro markets nationally and calibrated so 50 equals the state average — a score above 50 means this market is positioned to outperform its state, and a score below 50 means it is set to lag.
Use PropertyIQ's interactive analytics to compare Kenosha, WI against any other US metro on its PropertyIQ Score and underlying metrics. Generate a free AI market report, explore historical trends on the graphs page, or see how this market ranks on the scores dashboard.
Counties in the Kenosha, WI metro area
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Market data through June 2026. Sourced from Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, U.S. Census Bureau, FRED, BLS, and BEA. Per-statistic source and date shown above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kenosha, WI a good place to buy real estate in 2026?
PropertyIQ doesn't label markets simply good or bad. Instead, the PropertyIQ Score measures a market's demand momentum against its own state, where 50 marks the state average. Kenosha, WI currently scores 93, a very strong-momentum reading that leaves it positioned to outperform its state over the next three years. For buyers, strengthening demand usually means rising competition and firmer prices, so waiting can cost you negotiating room. Backing that up, the median home value here is $248K. So whether Kenosha, WI is right for you comes down to your goals: a rising-momentum market can favor long-term appreciation but offers less room to negotiate, while a cooling one hands buyers more leverage. Treat the score as a timing signal to weigh alongside your budget, holding period, and plans for the property, not a verdict on the market's quality.
What is the PropertyIQ Score for Kenosha, WI?
Kenosha, WI's PropertyIQ Score is 93, indicating very strong momentum on a 1-to-99 scale. The score distills four transparent inputs into a single number: Zillow home-value momentum over the past 12 months, Zillow home-value momentum over the past 3 months, the median days homes spend on the market from Realtor.com, and the share of listings with a price cut, also from Realtor.com. Rising values and faster sales push the score up, while slow sales and frequent price cuts pull it down. The scale is calibrated so 50 equals the state average, meaning a score above 50 predicts the market will outperform its state over the next three years and a score below 50 predicts underperformance. PropertyIQ computes the score across every US market nationally, then recenters it against each state, so 93 places Kenosha, WI above its state benchmark.
How quickly do homes sell in Kenosha, WI?
In Kenosha, WI, homes sell in a median of 26 days from listing to pending sale, based on Realtor.com market data. Median days on market is one of the clearest real-time reads on local demand: when homes move quickly, buyers are competing and sellers hold the advantage, while lengthening timelines signal cooling interest and more room to negotiate. Alongside sale speed, about 6% of active listings here have taken at least one price cut — a complementary demand gauge, since a rising share of reductions often precedes slower sales and softer prices. Both median days on market and the price-cut share feed directly into the PropertyIQ Score, where faster sales and fewer cuts push the score higher. As a general guide, medians under about 30 days indicate a brisk, competitive market, while medians well beyond 60 days point to buyers regaining leverage. Actual time on market still varies by price band, property type, and season, so treat the median as a market-wide baseline.
How current is this metro area data?
This Kenosha, WI market data is refreshed on a monthly cycle, with the latest figures current through June 2026. PropertyIQ ingests fresh data every month from a range of authoritative sources: home values and rents from Zillow, days on market and price-cut activity from Realtor.com, additional housing signals from Redfin, demographic and housing-stock data from the U.S. Census Bureau, mortgage and macroeconomic series from FRED, and employment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The PropertyIQ Score itself is recomputed every month once the new source data lands, so the score and its four underlying inputs always reflect the most recent complete reporting period rather than a static snapshot. Because official housing data is typically released with a short lag, the current-through date usually trails the present by a few weeks, which is normal across the industry and not a sign the data is out of date.