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METRO AREA

La Crosse Metro

La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN · 3 counties · 171,182 residents (2025 est.) · 1,795.483 sq mi
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The short version

La Crosse has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $73,555. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $248,970. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.1
US median: 38.9
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 49%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
170,190
+10%since 2000
from 154,894 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
95 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 86 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.1
+11%since 2000
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:171,182 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
139K148K156K165K173K1990201020202024La Crosse
2024170K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,555
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,486 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,247
+118%since 2000
from $18,962 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.9%
+22.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.9%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.442
+5%since 2010
from 0.421 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade13%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$248,970
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,436 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$999
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $441 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 69.6% in 2000
32.2% rent
Vacancy rate
6.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.8%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 25.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 39.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+42%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
60
RELATED:See current rent listings in La Crosse on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.1%(147,287)
Black0.7%(1,051)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(1,297)
Asian2.2%(3,482)
Other0%
Diversity Score9.3%(14,340)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.3%(152,005)
Black1.1%(1,902)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(4,106)
Asian3.3%(5,654)
Other3.8%(6,523)
Diversity Score24.9%(42,336)
Segregation Score24.9%(42,387)
Diversity Score
25
+169%since 2000
from 9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
25
+4%since 2020
from 24 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.7%
+11.0 ptssince 2000
from 22.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.3%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 87.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.6%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.2 min
+62%since 2000
from 12.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.0%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 77.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.0%
+6.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.9%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 5.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.1%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 69.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.1%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.9%
−24.1 ptssince 2009
from 64.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
2.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−41.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.3%
+2.0 ptssince 2012
from 10.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.2%
−84.6 ptssince 2013
from 90.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.9%
+9.7 ptssince 2017
from 78.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 92.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.8%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

La CrosseCENTRAL50,784OnalaskaCENTRAL20,297
What's inside

3 component counties

La Crosse CountyCENTRAL121,339Vernon County31,443Houston CountyCENTRAL18,400
Drill deeper

Metros similar to La Crosse

Grand Junction
Pop 162,845
Oshkosh
Pop 174,218
Eau Claire
Pop 176,647
Odessa
Pop 173,801
Places similar to La Crosse
Head to head

Compare La Crosse side by side

LA CROSSE VS
Grand Junction
Income$73,658same
Home value$378,600+52%
Population162,845−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LA CROSSE VS
Oshkosh
Income$74,925+2%
Home value$225,800−9%
Population174,218+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LA CROSSE VS
Eau Claire
Income$74,597+1%
Home value$259,809+4%
Population176,647+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LA CROSSE VS
Odessa
Income$71,536−3%
Home value$200,200−20%
Population173,801+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?

La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN has about 170,190 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?

The typical household in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN earns about $73,555 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN expensive?

In La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN, the median home is worth about $248,970, and the typical rent is about $999 a month.

How educated are people in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?

About 33.7% of adults age 25 and over in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?

About 11.9% of people in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN live below the federal poverty line.

Has La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN grown since 1990?

Yes, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN has grown since 1990. The population has added about 28,172 residents, a change of about 20 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →