Housing
Housing in Menomonee Falls is an important asset for the community providing high quality living environments for Village residents. The Village benefits from a diverse local housing stock which includes single family homes, apartments, and senior housing in a wide variety of styles across a wide range of price points.
Housing Stock
- Total units = 16,585
- Single family = 11,981 (72 percent) Median value = $312,400
- Multi-family = 4,604 (28 percent) Median gross rent = $1,217
Year Structure Built (All Housing Units)
- 6.2% Built before 1949
- 16.6% Built 1950 - 1959
- 18.7% Built 1960 - 1969
- 7.3% Built 1970 - 1979
- 7.6% Built 1980 - 1989
- 19.8% Built 1990 - 1999
- 13.6% Built 2000 - 2009
- 9.4% Built 2010 - 2019
- 0.9% Built 2020 or later
Source: American Community Survey 2018-2022 five-year estimates from the United States Census Bureau
Selected Housing Cost Characteristics for Menomonee Falls and Area Communities
Median Home Value | Comparison to Waukesha County Median | Median Gross Rent | Comparison to Waukesha County Median | |
| Village of Menomonee Falls | $312,400 | -17.3% | $1,217 | +0.2% |
| City of Brookfield | $388,600 | +2.3% | $1,699 | +40.0% |
| City of Muskego | $371,100 | -2.3% | $1,271 | +4.7% |
| City of New Berlin | $320,800 | -15.5% | $1,371 | +12.9% |
| Village of Sussex | $360,100 | -5.2% | $1,222 | +0.7% |
| Waukesha County | $379,700 | - | $1,214 | - |
Source: American Community Survey 2018-2022 five-year estimates, United States Census Bureau
Unique among suburban Milwaukee communities, Menomonee Falls’ housing stock contains a wide variety of housing options which reflect the rich history of the community. The pictures below highlight some of the many types of housing choices in Menomonee Falls.
Downtown Multi-family
Downtown Historic Single Family
Mid-20th Century Single Family
Multi-family Complexes & Lifestyle Centers
Recently Built Single Family
Senior Housing
Rural Living
Housing Units in Menomonee Falls by TypeSource: Village of Menomonee Falls Assessing Department and Department of Engineering & Development
Fair Housing
Fair housing is the choice to live where you want to live and where you can afford to live without the fear or threat of discrimination.
The Village of Menomonee Falls complies with Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (commonly known as the Fair Housing Act), as amended, by ensuring that its zoning and land use decisions do not discriminate against persons based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap. The Village supports equal housing opportunity in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings and improvements within the community and promotes development of housing across a wide range of price points.
The federal Fair Housing Act and the Wisconsin Open Housing Law make it illegal to discriminate in housing based on the following protected classes:
- Race – A person’s race or the race of persons with whom one associates.
- Color – A person’s skin color.
- Sex – A person’s sex, including sexual harassment or intimidation.
- National Origin/Ancestry – The country of one’s birth and/or the nationality of one’s ancestors.
- Religion – A person’s religious beliefs or denominational affiliation.
- Disability/Handicap – A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
- Family/Familial Status – Household composition, including the presence of children.
- Age – Persons 18 years of age and older.
- Marital Status – Married, single, divorced, widowed or separated.
- Lawful Source of Income – A person’s legal means of income, including such subsidized forms as Social Security, Food Stamps, Unemployment Compensation, etc.
- Sexual Orientation – Heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality.
- Domestic Abuse, Sexual Assault and Stalking Victims – Persons who have been or are victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking.
Examples of discriminatory practices
- Refusing to rent or negotiate with someone for the rental or sale of a dwelling.
- Failing to renew a lease of lying about the availability of a dwelling.
- Applying different terms or rental conditions.
- Providing different rental privileges or services.
- Not allowing a person with a disability to make reasonable accommodations to the unit.
- Applying different rental or mortgage application standards or fees.
- Harassing or interfering with a person’s quiet enjoyment of a dwelling.
- Steering persons to certain units within an apartment complex or homes within a neighborhood.
- Retaliation for exercising or enjoying a right under the law is also prohibited.
Persons with Disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations in rules, policies or services associated with their housing and may make necessary modifications to their rental properties at their own expense. A renter has a responsibility to restore the rental housing to its original condition at the end of their lease.
Service animals also have special protection under the law and it is illegal to discriminate against or deny an individual with a disability housing because of their service animal if it assists that individual with impaired vision, hearing or mobility.
If you have questions about housing discrimination, or to file a complaint, contact the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Equal Rights Division at erinfo@dwd.wisconsin.gov or 608-266-6860.
Potential consequences for housing discrimination under Wisconsin law
It is unlawful to discriminate against a person in housing because of that person's protected class. A person alleging discrimination may file a complaint within 1 year of the discriminatory action. A complaint form with instructions is available from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Equal Rights Division. The Equal Rights Division may explore settlement possibilities before an investigation begins. Many housing complaints are resolved by compromise, which is usually a good option for both parties.
If the investigation finds probable cause to believe that discrimination may have occurred, the Equal Rights Division will issue a CHARGE of discrimination, along with the investigator's determination. Either party may elect to have the charge decided in a CIVIL ACITON filed by the complainant in Circuit Court.
If a civil action is not chosen, the complaint will be decided after a hearing held by an Administrative Law Judge of the Equal Rights Division. Note that the Equal Rights Division does not provide legal representation for either party.
Generally, persons who prove they were victims of discrimination may receive:
- Out of pocket losses and interest
- Attorney fees and costs
- Compensatory damages for losses or injury
- Punitive damages if filed in court
- Injunctive relief
Other remedies or fines may also be ordered. The U.S. Fair Housing Act provides remedies similar to those available under Wisconsin Law. If no probable cause is found at the investigation, the ERD will dismiss the case. The dismissal will become final unless the ERD receives a written appeal letter within 20 days of the determination.
The economic benefits of affordable, workforce, and mixed income housing
The provision of affordable housing options has been shown to benefit communities by improving access to jobs, increasing local spending power, and supporting a healthy tax base. For information on these and other benefits, see this 2020 Forbes.com article: “How Whole Communities Benefit from Affordable Housing”.