Below Average CostNear National AverageLa Crosse School District
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La Crosse is a mid-sized city of 52,043 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $51,836
and a 3.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
La Crosse stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether La Crosse is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All La Crosse city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 91.3
La Crosse's overall cost of living index is 91.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in La Crosse costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
La Crosse, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$183,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$941
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
46.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,836
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
La Crosse's violent crime rate is 391.0 per 100,000 residents
— 3% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
391.0 /100k
Property Crime
3711.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
La Crosse is served primarily by La Crosse School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
La Crosse, WI
National Avg
School District
La Crosse School District
—
Elementary Schools
11
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
35.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
La Crosse sees average highs of 23.6°F in January
and 79.5°F in July,
with 37.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 54.2 inches of snow per year.
La Crosse's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes La Crosse roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $183,300 and median rent is $941/month.
La Crosse's violent crime rate is 391.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3711.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in La Crosse are operated by La Crosse School District.
The district has 11 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1. 35.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
La Crosse, WI has a population of 52,043, a median household income of $51,836, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
La Crosse averages 23.6°F in January and 79.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.5 inches
with about 54.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
La Crosse, WI is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 54601, 54603.
The population of La Crosse, Wisconsin is 52,043 with a median age of 30.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in La Crosse: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $183,300, median household income $51,836, crime index 132 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare La Crosse side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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