United States › Wisconsin › Onalaska CITY · 2020 ACS
Onalaska Wisconsin · 18,803 residents · 10.6 sq mi
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COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 18,803 people, Onalaska is a city in Wisconsin. 3,964 more people live here than in 2000. Poverty is uncommon here, at 4.5% of people here. Getting to work takes 18 minutes on average. 5% of people here were born outside the United States. 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.8
More educated
39% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 35.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
10K 13K 15K 18K 20K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Onalaska Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $66,295
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,800 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $24,066 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 36.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 6.8%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.7%
Transportation & warehousing 2.4%
Education & health services 0.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.5%
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$208,600
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $105,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$879
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $535 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 68.1% in 2000
36.8% rent
from 2.38 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.8 in 2009
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-Hispanic 94.6%(14,040)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 83.9%(15,769)
Hispanic / Latino 2.6%(485)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data from 31.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 94.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 88.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 71.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 40.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 5.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 36.3%(2,821)
Women 15+
Never married 27.3%(2,318)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 5.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
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) 17.8%(201)
Gulf War (1990s) 27.3%(308)
Share of the 1,129 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Onalaska Head to head
Compare Onalaska to nearby cities ONALASKA VS
La Crosse
Income $55,866 −16%
Home value $210,100 +1%
Population 50,784 +150%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ONALASKA VS
Holmen
Income $79,899 +21%
Home value $285,900 +37%
Population 12,105 −40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ONALASKA VS
Sparta
Income $64,973 −2%
Home value $180,600 −13%
Population 9,974 −51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ONALASKA VS
Winona
Income $56,337 −15%
Home value $201,800 −3%
Population 26,530 +31%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Onalaska, Wisconsin? Onalaska, Wisconsin has about 18,803 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Onalaska, Wisconsin? The typical household in Onalaska, Wisconsin earns about $66,295 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Onalaska, Wisconsin expensive? In Onalaska, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $208,600, and the typical rent is about $879 a month.
How educated are people in Onalaska, Wisconsin? About 38.5% of adults age 25 and over in Onalaska, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Onalaska, Wisconsin? About 4.5% of people in Onalaska, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.
Has Onalaska, Wisconsin grown since 1990? Yes, Onalaska, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,519 residents, a change of about 67 percent over that period.
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