What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to St. Francis, WI, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
St. Francis is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, with an estimated population of 8,951. It anchors the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area. The population has contracted 0.6% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in St. Francis is $288,193 as of 2026-04, up 0.4% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.1% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in St. Francis average $1,767 per month, up 3.5% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 59 of 100 (Stable). Conditions are neither hot nor cold, so the local fit matters more than market timing.
Sideways market (+0.4% YoY). No urgency to time the macro trend — focus on the home and neighborhood.
Reasons people move here
- Held the highs: currently -1.8% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
- The data is the data: St. Francis has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 2-criteria momentum score on this page.
Things to know first
- Flat or shrinking population: -0.6% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — verify the source.
- Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.
More about St. Francis
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.