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CITY

Wausau

Wisconsin · 40,188 residents (2025 est.) · 19.228 sq mi
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The short version

Wausau has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $64,389. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $167,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.2
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
39,996
+4%since 2000
from 38,426 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,080 / sq mi
+4%since 2000
from 1,998 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.2
+5%since 2000
from 36.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:40,188 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
37K38K39K39K40K1990201020202024Wausau
202440K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,389
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,831 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,957
+78%since 2000
from $20,227 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.2%
+19.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.6%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.437
+3%since 2010
from 0.422 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration7.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$167,900
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,010
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $473 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
57.6%
−4.1 ptssince 2000
from 61.7% in 2000
42.4% rent
Vacancy rate
5.8%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.4%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.2%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 39.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+13%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
54
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wausau on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic85.4%(32,802)
Black0.5%(205)
Hispanic / Latino1%(398)
Asian11.4%(4,373)
Other0%
Diversity Score29.1%(11,170)
2024
White, non-Hispanic77.6%(31,022)
Black0.4%(179)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(2,169)
Asian10.4%(4,161)
Other6.2%(2,465)
Diversity Score47.6%(19,039)
Diversity Score
48
+64%since 2000
from 29 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.9%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 21.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.1%
+11.3 ptssince 2000
from 80.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.7%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 7.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.4 min
+55%since 2000
from 9.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.6%
−9.3 ptssince 2009
from 80.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
14.3%
+11.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.9%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 9.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.2%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.3%
−26.3 ptssince 2009
from 62.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
7.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.8%
−42.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.9%
+2.6 ptssince 2012
from 13.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.6%
−81.6 ptssince 2013
from 89.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.7%
+12.8 ptssince 2017
from 75.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2016
from 85.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Wausau to nearby cities

WAUSAU VS
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Home value$229,300+37%
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WAUSAU VS
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WAUSAU VS
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Income$53,148−17%
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WAUSAU VS
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Home value$104,800−38%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Wausau, Wisconsin?

Wausau, Wisconsin has about 39,996 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wausau, Wisconsin?

The typical household in Wausau, Wisconsin earns about $64,389 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wausau, Wisconsin expensive?

In Wausau, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $167,900, and the typical rent is about $1,010 a month.

How educated are people in Wausau, Wisconsin?

About 30.9% of adults age 25 and over in Wausau, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wausau, Wisconsin?

About 14.6% of people in Wausau, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wausau, Wisconsin grown since 1990?

Yes, Wausau, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,936 residents, a change of about 8 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 →