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Onalaska, WI

Full City Profile · Wisconsin · La Crosse County County

3.7 /5.0
B+ Good
18,909 Population 1,782/sq mi density
$84,898 Median Income $50,428 per capita
$279,100 Home Value $352,326 Zillow
$1,096 Median Rent 25.7% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature 260 sunny days/yr
53 Violent Crime/100K 2,773 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.7 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$84,898 median income, 2.2% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.8 / 5.0
$279,100 home value, $1,096/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
53 violent crimes/100K
A
Education
4.3 / 5.0
41.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Onalaska experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 35.2 inches. The area receives 46.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 38.

Temperature

19°F Jan (-7°C) 75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average48.8°F
10% below US avg
January Average19°F (-7°C)
July Average75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days260 days/yr

Geography

Elevation743 ft (226 m)
Area10.7 sq mi (27.8 km²)
Population Density1,782/sq mi
Coordinates43.8897°N, 91.2044°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyLa Crosse County County
Nearest AirportLa Crosse Regional (LSE)
3 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 35.2"
7% below US avg
Snowfall 46.3"
Wettest Month (Aug) 4.13"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.83"

Air Quality

AQI Median38.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0478 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.1 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score80.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability16.3 / 100
Community Resilience92.5 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane No Rating
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively High
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Tornado History

287 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 9 fatalities, 162 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 4, 1958 EF4 98 km 4
Apr 19, 1957 EF4 82 km 1
Aug 7, 2021 EF3 93 km 0
May 15, 1998 EF3 91 km 0
Aug 27, 1994 EF3 86 km 2
Jul 3, 1983 EF3 81 km 0
Jun 5, 1980 EF3 25 km 0
May 5, 1965 EF3 79 km 0
Sep 3, 1964 EF3 90 km 0
May 26, 1959 EF3 21 km 0
Apr 19, 1957 EF3 65 km 0
Jun 15, 2022 EF2 55 km 0
Dec 15, 2021 EF2 93 km 0
Dec 15, 2021 EF2 78 km 0
Dec 15, 2021 EF2 75 km 0
May 22, 2011 EF2 26 km 0
May 22, 2011 EF2 54 km 0
Aug 18, 2005 EF2 54 km 0
Jul 8, 1999 EF2 57 km 0
May 8, 1988 EF2 91 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BIG BURN (3,154 ac, 1987).

Year Name Acres Distance
1987 BIG BURN 3,154 87 km
2024 2024 DOD HARDWOOD RANGE RX 2,717 98 km
1994 BIG BURN 2,248 88 km
2023 2023 RX 1,992 97 km
1997 BIG BURN 1,642 87 km
2004 POOL ONE NORTH 1,576 86 km
1998 UNNAMED 1,297 88 km
2021 2021 DOD HARDWOOD RANGE RX 987 97 km
2007 BEAVER CUTOFF 982 69 km
2007 UNNAMED 981 83 km
2003 UNNAMED 901 85 km
1998 PR 17 896 86 km
2007 UNNAMED 875 88 km
2009 UNNAMED 867 84 km
2007 PR 16 778 87 km
2006 PR 17 RX FIRE 701 89 km
2005 UNNAMED 657 85 km
2003 PR 17 632 88 km
2009 UNNAMED 589 85 km
2004 UNNAMED 580 87 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 19°F (-7°C) 0.9 in Coldest
February 21°F (-6°C) 0.8 in Driest
March 33°F (0°C) 1.9 in
April 47°F (8°C) 2.9 in
May 59°F (15°C) 3.5 in
June 68°F (20°C) 4.0 in
July 75°F (24°C) 3.9 in Warmest
August 70°F (21°C) 4.1 in Wettest
September 62°F (16°C) 4.0 in
October 50°F (10°C) 2.3 in
November 35°F (2°C) 1.8 in
December 21°F (-6°C) 1.3 in

Onalaska has a seasonal temperature swing of 56°F / from 19°F in January to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 31.3 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.1") and February the driest (0.8").

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