CensusEasy
CITY · 2020 ACS

La Crosse

Wisconsin · 52,680 residents · 21.7 sq mi
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The short version

With 52,680 people, La Crosse is a city in Wisconsin. The median age is 30.7, younger than the US median of 38.8. Owners hold 46% of the housing stock. People stay put here: 73% were in the same home a year ago. 22.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. The average commute runs 16 minutes.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 30.7
US median: 38.8
More educated
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

52,680
+2%since 2000
from 51,818 in 2000
1990 – 2025
30.7
+2%since 2000
from 30.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
21.7 sq mi
Population, 19902024
51K51K52K52K53K19902000201020202024La Crosse
202451K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.6%(2,398)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.2%(2,201)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 144.3%(2,248)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 197%(3,683)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2420.8%(10,956)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3414.8%(7,782)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.2%(5,365)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 548.4%(4,429)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6410.6%(5,608)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 748.4%(4,409)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.2%(2,221)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.6%(1,380)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$46,438
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,103 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$27,398
+55%since 2000
from $17,650 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
25.4%
+9.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
22.9%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information13.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade9.6%
US avg: 10%
Other services6.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.5%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food2.4%
US avg: 2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$150,500
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$820
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $449 in 2000
US average: $1,124
45.5%
−5.4 ptssince 2000
from 50.9% in 2000
54.5% rent
2.21 people
+2%since 2009
from 2.17 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.2
−2%since 2009
from 3.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91%(47,158)
Black1.5%(775)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(592)
Asian4.6%(2,391)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic84.4%(44,458)
Black2.8%(1,489)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(1,693)
Asian4.9%(2,560)
Other2.9%(1,534)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.3%(658)
Cuban0.2%(90)
Puerto Rican0.1%(58)
Honduran0.1%(36)
Colombian0.1%(31)
Spaniard0.1%(30)
Peruvian0%(15)
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Hmong1.2%(610)
Chinese0.6%(286)
Korean0.5%(232)
Filipino0.4%(198)
Asian Indian0.3%(178)
Japanese0.2%(98)
Laotian0.1%(50)
Vietnamese0.1%(29)
Pakistani0%(15)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German41.5%(21,411)
Norwegian14.5%(7,476)
Irish13.6%(7,006)
English6.9%(3,574)
Polish5.9%(3,030)
Italian3.6%(1,845)
Czech2.5%(1,292)
French2.5%(1,271)
Swedish2.2%(1,142)
Dutch2%(1,038)
American1.9%(989)
Danish0.9%(443)
+ 36 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.8%(436)
Russian0.7%(344)
Swiss0.6%(324)
Finnish0.6%(316)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(299)
Austrian0.4%(214)
British0.4%(187)
Greek0.3%(140)
Welsh0.3%(135)
Hungarian0.3%(130)
Lithuanian0.2%(121)
Ukrainian0.1%(77)
Belgian0.1%(71)
Lebanese0.1%(60)
Syrian0.1%(59)
Nigerian0.1%(57)
Arab0.1%(55)
Slovene0.1%(55)
Portuguese0.1%(46)
West Indian0.1%(39)
Croatian0.1%(38)
Serbian0.1%(34)
Slovak0.1%(34)
Canadian0.1%(29)
Romanian0.1%(27)
Latvian0%(21)
Ethiopian0%(21)
Moroccan0%(18)
Kenyan0%(16)
Bulgarian0%(15)
Brazilian0%(10)
Section 05

Education

36.5%
+12.4 ptssince 2000
from 24.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.9%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 87.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
14.3%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

16.1 min
+53%since 2000
from 10.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
74.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 72.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
11.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

3.9%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 7.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
63.7%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 67.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
78.9%
US average: 73.3%
36.7%
+7.5 ptssince 2009
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

47.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
52.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
2.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
5.4%
−4.8 ptssince 2013
from 10.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
90.1%
US average: 91.9%
72.9%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married56.1%(12,362)
Married32.8%(7,227)
Widowed1.9%(414)
Divorced9.3%(2,048)
Women 15+
Never married52.9%(12,281)
Married28.9%(6,725)
Widowed7.8%(1,810)
Divorced10.4%(2,421)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

5.4%
−4.8 ptssince 2013
from 10.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
65.6%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
13.1%
US average: 13.7%
16.0%
US average: 17.6%
15.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.4%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
77.0%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
28.3%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)19.4%(459)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)18.8%(443)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era30.3%(715)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War8.2%(193)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II5.1%(120)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 2,361 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in La Crosse, Wisconsin?

La Crosse, Wisconsin has about 52,680 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in La Crosse, Wisconsin?

The typical household in La Crosse, Wisconsin earns about $46,438 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is La Crosse, Wisconsin expensive?

In La Crosse, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $150,500, and the typical rent is about $820 a month.

How educated are people in La Crosse, Wisconsin?

About 36.5% of adults age 25 and over in La Crosse, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in La Crosse, Wisconsin?

About 22.9% of people in La Crosse, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.

Has La Crosse, Wisconsin grown since 1990?

Yes, La Crosse, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,677 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →