1st Advantage MortgageIn Kenosha, WI, rental investors qualify on the property's rent instead of personal income. The market data behind that: $1,186 median rent, $225,200 median home value and 41% of households renting.
Local data for Kenosha investors
Renters who pay cash rent in Kenosha have a median gross rent of $1,186 a month, about 9% above the Wisconsin median of $1,087, while owner-occupied homes carry a median value of $225,200. Annual median rent is about 6.3% of the median home value in Kenosha. That is neither especially thin nor especially rich, but it blends every housing type, so a house on a specific street needs its own rent comparables.
| Indicator | Wisconsin | Kenosha | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persons per household | 2.33 | 2.39 | |
| Share in 2-4 unit buildings | 9.4% | 14.2% | +51% |
| Share of homes detached | 66.2% | 56.8% | -14% |
| Long commuters, 45 min plus | 10.2% | 13.6% | +33% |
| Degree holders, age 25+ | 33.4% | 29.0% | -13% |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income | 43.7% | 49.3% | +13% |
| Units sitting vacant | 10.8% | 5.1% | -53% |
| Annual rent divided by value | 4.9% | 6.3% | +29% |
| Households that rent | 32.2% | 41.3% | +28% |
| Tax as a share of home value | 1.42% | 1.70% | +20% |
| Annual property tax bill, median | $3,792 | $3,839 | +1% |
| Household income, median | $77,485 | $71,239 | -8% |
| Typical owner-occupied value | $266,500 | $225,200 | -15% |
| Typical monthly rent | $1,087 | $1,186 | +9% |
| Residents (Census estimate) | 5,914,872 | 99,372 |
Roughly 41.3% of occupied housing in Kenosha is rented, well above the Wisconsin median of 32%. Against a median household income of $71,239 (about 8% below the Wisconsin median of $77,485), 49% of renters report rent at or above 30 percent of income.
Property types and condition in Kenosha
The housing stock in Kenosha leans toward shared walls: 37% of units are in multi-unit buildings, and 14% sit in small two to four unit properties. The median structure went up in 1970, so request ages for the roof, HVAC and water heater on any rental you consider.
Kenosha reports 5% of units vacant and a rental vacancy rate of 4.4%, a measure of how quickly a listed unit might lease.
What stands out in Kenosha
At 6.3%, Kenosha is neither a bargain nor a stretch for DSCR underwriting, so the file turns on the exact rent, tax and insurance figures for the property. With a 1970 median build year, the question for each property is when the roof and HVAC were last replaced. With about 41% of households renting, Kenosha has enough tenants to support investors without being dominated by them.
Insurance, tax and flood context for Kenosha
The Census reports median real estate taxes paid of $3,839 in Kenosha, close to the Wisconsin median of $3,792. Against the median value that is an effective rate of roughly 1.70%, compared with 1.42% for Wisconsin as a whole. Measured against a year of median rent, taxes eat about 27% before any other cost shows up.
The federal National Risk Index scores Kenosha County relatively moderate for overall risk, led by cold waves (relatively high), lightning (relatively high) and tornadoes (relatively high). That is a county-level view, so check the flood map for the exact parcel.
| Hazard in Kenosha County, FEMA index | Level |
|---|---|
| Strong wind exposure | Relatively High |
| Tornadoes exposure | Relatively High |
| Lightning exposure | Relatively High |
| Cold waves exposure | Relatively High |
| Social vulnerability score | Relatively Low |
| Annualized loss estimate | Relatively Moderate |
| Composite risk | Relatively Moderate |
In Kenosha County, as anywhere, the premium is part of PITIA, which means a quote with the roof, age and flood zone of the actual Kenosha address belongs in your file early.
The ratio in Kenosha dollars
The quick test for Kenosha: rent of $1,186 divided by a 1.25 ratio allows a total payment of $949, and subtracting $320 in monthly taxes leaves $629 for the loan, insurance and dues. At 1.00 the allowance is the full $866.
Rules a Kenosha landlord should check
Rental registration, inspection and nightly-stay rules differ by city, and we have not verified Kenosha's from a municipal source. A short call to the city and Kenosha County before you make an offer is cheap insurance. If you are weighing nightly income in Kenosha, the state tax backdrop is this. Wisconsin taxes short-term lodging of under a month, requires a marketplace that processes the guest's payment to collect state sales tax, and leaves municipal room taxes to be filed with each taxing municipality.
Deposits come due back within 21 days of the tenant leaving, and Kenosha owners should document condition at both ends of the lease.
Comparing Kenosha with surrounding markets
Set Kenosha ($225,200 median value) beside its neighbors: Racine comes in lowest at $166,500, and Waukesha tops the group at $315,500.
| Market | Renter share | Tax bill | Home value | Residents | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville | 33% | $3,736 | $223,400 | 66,030 | $1,054 |
| Waukesha | 41% | $4,511 | $315,500 | 71,233 | $1,219 |
| Milwaukee | 58% | $3,668 | $184,000 | 566,973 | $1,059 |
| Racine | 40% | $3,607 | $166,500 | 77,633 | $1,033 |
| Kenosha | 41% | $3,839 | $225,200 | 99,372 | $1,186 |
The renter base in Kenosha
Roughly 6.3% of employed people in Kenosha are self-employed, a base of investors and landlords for whom a rent-based loan is a practical option. Other workforce markers: government workers are about 14% of employment, 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 14% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more.
Colleges tied to Kenosha include Carthage College, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Gateway Technical College and Herzing University, and campus-adjacent streets often rent to students and staff on a school-year rhythm. Wikipedia's entry for Kenosha notes interstate access via I-94 and air service through Kenosha Regional Airport, a practical point for tenants and owners alike.
Before you make an offer in Kenosha
Ready to test a Kenosha deal? Use the calculator for the ratio, then start your application or send us the scenario.
More Wisconsin markets
- All Wisconsin DSCR loans
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- DSCR loans in Janesville, WI
- Every market we cover
Where these facts come from
- American Community Survey tables, Wisconsin
- FEMA county hazard table
- Background reading: Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Deposit statute: Wis. Stat. 704.28; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06
- Lodging tax reference: Wisconsin DOR Publication 219
We took the Kenosha data from Census ACS five-year tables for 2020 to 2024, estimates with margins of error. The Wisconsin legal summaries are from the RedFlagLease dataset, licensed CC BY 4.0, with statute links. Reviewed in October 2026, with no promise that rules have stayed put.
A short buyer checklist
Before you commit on a Kenosha deal, confirm the rent with the lease or a market estimate, price the insurance for the exact address, and check how the taxes may change after the sale, so the ratio you run matches the one the lender calculates.
DSCR loan availability varies by property and lender program and is not an offer to lend. See our disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
What rent do DSCR lenders use for a Kenosha rental?
Expect to supply a lease, or let the appraiser's rent schedule stand in for one; the Kenosha median rent of $1,186 is context and not a substitute.
Does the ratio in Kenosha include taxes and dues?
They count in full. A 1.25 ratio on $1,186 of rent permits a payment near $949, and median Kenosha taxes take about $320 of it each month.
What do Kenosha owners pay in real estate taxes?
Median taxes paid are $3,839 a year, or 1.70% of median value, compared with 1.42% statewide. Ask Kenosha County's tax office what the bill becomes after your sale.
Is short-term rental income allowed for a Kenosha DSCR loan?
It depends on the program and on local law. A Kenosha owner needs the right permit or registration, an association that allows nightly stays, and documented bookings.
What does Wisconsin law say about deposits at a Kenosha rental?
Landlords in Kenosha follow Wis. Stat. 704.28; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.06. Return deadline: 21 days from move-out.
What hazard risk does Kenosha carry for investors?
The National Risk Index gives the county an overall relatively moderate rating. Use that as a prompt to get quotes, not as a verdict on one Kenosha street.
Is an entity required for a WI DSCR loan?
No, but it is common. Entity borrowers supply articles, an operating agreement and an EIN letter, and the owners typically guarantee the loan. A Wisconsin attorney can advise on structure.