At a Glance
Median Income
$53,803
$34,356 per capita
Home Value
$196,600
Zillow: $287,924
Median Rent
$977/mo
29.9% of income on rent
Violent Crime
403/100K
3,727/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
34.8%
95.1% high school+
Unemployment
3.5%
7.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
41.4%
16.2% smoking rate
How La Crosse Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows La Crosse's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is La Crosse a Good Place to Live?
B
3.3 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
La Crosse residents earn a median household income of $53,803 , which is 28% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $34,356. The unemployment rate stands at 3.5% (3% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 7.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 3,551 business establishments, including 350 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in La Crosse is $196,600 , 30% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $287,924. Median rent is $977/month, with 29.9% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1964.
Safety & Crime
La Crosse reports 403 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 6% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,727/100K. The murder rate is 2.0/100K.
Education
34.8% of adults in La Crosse hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(3% above the national average).
95.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
La Crosse has an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C).
Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 35.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 37.
Data Overview
People
Population51,791
Median Age30.3 yrs
Density2,386/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born2.9%
Veterans5.8%
Economy
B+
Median Income$53,803
Per Capita$34,356
Unemployment3.5%
Poverty7.8%
County GDP$9,934M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,124
Housing
A+
Home Value$196,600
Rent$977
Ownership46.1%
Zillow$287,924
Housing Units24,206
Rent Burden29.9%
Crime
F
Violent403/100K
Property3,727/100K
Murder2.0/100K
Assault293/100K
Burglary283/100K
Health
Obesity41.4%
Diabetes10.3%
Smoking16.2%
Heart Disease5.8%
Premature Death6,575/100K
Climate
Avg Temp49°F
Rain35.2 in/yr
AQI37 (Good)
Elevation633 ft
Education
B+
Bachelor's+34.8%
High School+95.1%
Graduate+14.9%
School Score6.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 45% / D 54%
Commute17 min
Broadband86.6%
Internet Speed166 Mbps
EV Stations19
Libraries8
Did You Know?
La Crosse was founded in 1842.
The median home in La Crosse was built in 1964.
The nearest airport is La Crosse Regional (4 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.458 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
13.7% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 166 Mbps.
There are 350 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 6 fatal vehicle crashes.