Random thought, My family moved here when I was a kid. Crime rate is something to consider -Onalaska sits at 53.1 per 100K. With a population of 18,909, Onalaska is a small town. You can expect to pay around $1,096 for rent here. Household incomes average around $84,898 in Onalaska. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Worth the trade-offs? Thanks for reading. The food scene here is surprisingly good.
3 upvotes
4 Replies
Evan Hall
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a data analyst, 47, moved here 11 years ago from New York. I've lived in Riverside and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Good healthcare facilities
3. Good airport with direct flights
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The outdoor recreation situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for remote workers. solid vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from New York, everything felt underrated. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are affordable. Gas is stable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
34 upvotes
Jameson Scott
Moved here from Phoenix about 11 years ago. there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Still getting used to job market but Good luck with whatever you decide..
20 upvotes
Hazel Peterson
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want walkability, then yeah this place is great. But if pet-friendliness matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
14 upvotes
vegas_ethan
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from Denver and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Meadowbrook. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in legal. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 9 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like Southern.
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