La Crosse, WI Local Data & Statistics

State: WI

Total population: 51,356 Household income: $55,866 Rent: $1,010

Overview

Total population

51,356

Rent

$1,010

Year built

1965

Household income

$55,866

Per capita income

$34,439

Poverty rate

21.4%

Unemployment rate

2.6%

Household size

2.1 persons

Rent over 30% of income

45.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Wisconsin

Total population

51,356

Adults over 25

29,991

Total households

22,965

Household size

2.1 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$55,866

Per capita income

$34,439

Poverty rate

21.4%

Unemployment rate

2.6%

Rent over 30% of income

45.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,010

Year built

1965

Households that rent

53.9%

Households that own

46.1%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.9

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

87.3%

Black

2.1%

Asian

4.4%

Two or more races

4.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

3.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

96.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

88.1%

Commute time to work

16 mins

Work from home

11.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

26.5%

High school graduate or GED

24%

Some college or associate degree

14.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

34.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of La Crosse, WI with: Wisconsin United States

La Crosse, WI

Total population51,356

Rent$1,010

Year built1965

Household income$55,866

Per capita income$34,439

Poverty rate21.4%

Unemployment rate2.6%

Wisconsin State

Total population5,914,872

Rent$1,087

Year built1975

Household income$77,485

Per capita income$43,373

Poverty rate10.6%

Unemployment rate3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityLa Crosse, WI	StateWisconsin	CountryUnited States
Total population	51,356	5,914,872	334,922,499
Rent	$1,010	$1,087	$1,413
Year built	1965	1975	1980
Household income	$55,866	$77,485	$80,734
Per capita income	$34,439	$43,373	$44,673
Poverty rate	21.4%	10.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.6%	3%	4%

View the complete comparison of La Crosse, WI, Wisconsin and United States →

Summary for La Crosse, WI

La Crosse is located in Wisconsin.

Rent & Income

In La Crosse, the typical monthly rent is $1,010 and the typical household income is $55,866. Rent here is lower than in both Wisconsin and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 21.4%, which is higher than in both Wisconsin and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 53.9% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 45.3% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 34.9% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 2.6%, which is lower than both Wisconsin and the national rate.

La Crosse, WI — Rent vs Household Income

La Crosse, WI — Poverty vs Unemployment

How La Crosse, WI compares in Wisconsin (12 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,010	4 / 12	from lower rent	$932 – $1,413
Household income	$55,866	11 / 12	from higher income	$54,234 – $83,837
Poverty rate	21.4%	11 / 12	from lower poverty	8.3% – 22.8%
Unemployment rate	2.6%	3 / 12	from lower unemployment	2.2% – 3.9%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Wisconsin with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for La Crosse, WI

Rent

La Crosse ranks 4th out of 12 large places in Wisconsin for rent. Statewide rents range from $932 in Green Bay, WI to $1,413 in Madison, WI.

Household income

In terms of household income, La Crosse comes in 11th among 12 major places. Across Wisconsin, income levels vary from $54,234 in Milwaukee, WI to $83,837 in Waukesha, WI.

Poverty rate

Poverty levels put La Crosse in 11th place among 12 significant areas. Across Wisconsin, poverty ranges between 8.3% and 22.8%.

Unemployment rate

La Crosse places 3rd among 12 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 2.2% to 3.9%.

💰 Rent in La Crosse, WI (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,010 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in La Crosse, WI

Annual Household Income: $55,866

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in La Crosse, WI

Estimated Rate: 21.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in La Crosse, WI

In La Crosse, WI, households that rent: 12,371 (53.9%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	12,371	53.9%
Owner-Occupied	10,594	46.1%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in La Crosse, WI

In La Crosse, WI, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 5,604 (45.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	5,604	45.3%
Other renter households	6,767	54.7%
Total renter households	12,371	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in La Crosse, WI

Less than High School: 7,951 people (26.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 7,209 people (24%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,350 people (14.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 10,481 people (34.9%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 29,991

📊 Unemployment Rate in La Crosse, WI

Estimated Rate: 2.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Glendora, CA51,350 Burien, WA51,331 Aliso Viejo, CA51,320 Little Elm, TX51,426 Mooresville, NC51,447 Summerville, SC51,262 Harrisonburg, VA51,492 Collierville, TN51,212 Wake Forest, NC51,199 Hoffman Estates, IL51,186

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.