Housing Costs After Divorce in Wisconsin
Last reviewed: March 2026
The median home in Wisconsin is valued at $270,000. Keeping that home on a single income costs approximately $2,026/month (mortgage + taxes + insurance + maintenance). Renting a comparable home actually costs more in Wisconsin — about $319,402/month more.
Monthly carrying costs in Wisconsin
Here is what it costs to keep the median-priced home in Wisconsin ($270,000) on a single income. These figures assume a 20% down payment and a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.09%.
| Expense | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage (80% LTV, 30yr fixed) | $1,308 | $15,691 |
| Property taxes (1.68%) | $378 | $4,536 |
| Homeowners insurance | $116 | $1,388 |
| Maintenance (1% rule) | $225 | $2,700 |
| Total carrying cost | $2,026 | $24,315 |
Can you afford to keep it?
Financial advisors generally recommend keeping housing costs below 28–35% of gross income. Here is what you would need to earn to keep the median Wisconsin home:
| Threshold | Monthly income needed | Annual income needed |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative (28%) | $7,237 | $86,838 |
| Moderate (35%) | $5,789 | $69,470 |
Wisconsin insurance costs
Homeowners insurance in Wisconsin averages $1,388/year ($116/month). This is well below the national average of $3,548/year, making insurance one of the cheaper components of housing costs in Wisconsin.
Keep vs. sell: the numbers
Renting a comparable home in Wisconsin costs approximately $321,429/month (based on a price-to-rent ratio of 0.1). Owning is actually cheaper than renting by about $319,402/month in Wisconsin.
If you sell, closing costs in Wisconsin average 1.20% of the sale price ($3,240 on a $270,000 home). This includes transfer taxes, title insurance, recording fees, and agent commissions.
Property division in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a community property state. This means marital property is generally divided 50/50. If one spouse keeps the house, they typically need to compensate the other for half the equity — through refinancing, a cash buyout, or offsetting with other assets.
Can you actually afford to keep your Wisconsin home?
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Not financial or legal advice. DivorceSmart is an educational planning tool. Always consult a qualified attorney and financial advisor before making settlement decisions.
From uncertainty to clarity in 3 steps
No account required. No credit card. Just your numbers.
Enter your numbers
Settlement amount, income, expenses, alimony, house — takes about 2 minutes. Everything runs privately in your browser.
See the projection
Get a year-by-year chart showing your net worth from now through age 100. Green, yellow, or red — you'll know where you stand instantly.
Model & export
Test different settlement terms to find which saves you the most money, compare offers side-by-side, and export a report for your attorney.
Every projection is deterministic — same inputs always produce the same outputs. Results are estimates based on the assumptions you provide.
See what a Pro analysis looks like
We built a complete Pro analysis for a fictional person named Sarah. Explore every section — charts, what-if scenarios, risk timeline, negotiation leverage — so you can see what’s included before running your own numbers.
You don’t need a $5,000 CDFA retainer to understand your own numbers
Start with the free projection. If the numbers raise questions you can’t answer, upgrade to Pro for $19 — one-time, no subscription — and discover which settlement terms could save you thousands.
Not financial or legal advice. DivorceSmart is an educational planning tool. Always consult a qualified attorney and financial advisor before making settlement decisions.