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METRO AREA

Wausau Metro

Wausau, WI · 1 counties · 139,432 residents (2025 est.) · 1,545.194 sq mi
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The short version

Wausau has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $77,884. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $219,600. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 25%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
138,403
+10%since 2000
from 125,834 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
90 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 81 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.3
+14%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:139,432 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
113K120K127K134K141K1990201020202024Wausau
2024138K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$77,884
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,165 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,413
+100%since 2000
from $20,703 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
51.9%
+21.3 ptssince 2009
from 30.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.7%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.417
+4%since 2010
from 0.399 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration7.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$219,600
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $96,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$999
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $484 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2000
from 75.7% in 2000
26.7% rent
Vacancy rate
5.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.4%
−8.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.9%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 33.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
+32%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
43
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wausau on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.4%(117,517)
Black0.3%(337)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(979)
Asian4.5%(5,703)
Other0%
Diversity Score13.4%(16,890)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.2%(119,281)
Black0.6%(800)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(4,893)
Asian5.7%(7,842)
Other4%(5,587)
Diversity Score31.4%(43,443)
Segregation Score30.3%(41,986)
Diversity Score
31
+134%since 2000
from 13 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
30
−8%since 2020
from 33 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.1%
+9.8 ptssince 2000
from 18.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.3%
+9.6 ptssince 2000
from 83.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.4%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.1 min
+67%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.2%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 82.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.5%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.9%
+9.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.9%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.9%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 71.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.7%
−23.4 ptssince 2009
from 61.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
49.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
4.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.8%
−42.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.8%
+2.1 ptssince 2012
from 10.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−85.3 ptssince 2013
from 91.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.0%
+11.5 ptssince 2017
from 78.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 91.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

WausauCENTRAL40,188
What's inside

1 component county

Marathon CountyCENTRAL139,432
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Wausau

Lebanon
Pop 146,380
Albany
Pop 132,843
Harrisonburg
Pop 140,155
Glens Falls
Pop 124,373
Places similar to Wausau
Head to head

Compare Wausau side by side

WAUSAU VS
Lebanon
Income$78,425+1%
Home value$242,000+10%
Population146,380+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAUSAU VS
Albany
Income$76,329−2%
Home value$376,400+71%
Population132,843−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAUSAU VS
Harrisonburg
Income$73,776−5%
Home value$307,785+40%
Population140,155+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAUSAU VS
Glens Falls
Income$76,067−2%
Home value$233,211+6%
Population124,373−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wausau, WI?

Wausau, WI has about 138,403 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wausau, WI?

The typical household in Wausau, WI earns about $77,884 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wausau, WI expensive?

In Wausau, WI, the median home is worth about $219,600, and the typical rent is about $999 a month.

How educated are people in Wausau, WI?

About 28.1% of adults age 25 and over in Wausau, WI hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wausau, WI?

About 8.7% of people in Wausau, WI live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wausau, WI grown since 1990?

Yes, Wausau, WI has grown since 1990. The population has added about 23,003 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 →