ZIP Code 53205

In ZIP code 53205, on Milwaukee's near west side, homes carry a median value of $124,200, and the county's 1.93% effective property tax rate translates into roughly $2,400 a year in taxes on such a home. That figure lands hard against a median household income of $31,529 and per-capita income of $18,591. Add the 7.90% combined sales tax on everyday purchases, and the squeeze tightens further. Ownership here demands a far larger share of earnings than in most places, making the gap between what homes cost and what households bring in the central financial reality of the area.