Below Average CostVery SafePrairie du Chien Area School District
PDC-Aerial · AviationTraveler / CC BY 4.0Vertefeuille · Jonathunder / CC BY-SA 3.0Ball-play of the Women, Prairie du Chien SAAM-1985.66.430 1 · George Catlin / Public domainPrairie du Chien skyline · Wikideas1 / CC0
Prairie du Chien is a small town of 5,502 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $52,400
and a 1.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Prairie du Chien stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Prairie du Chien is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Prairie du Chien 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: 91.0
Prairie du Chien's overall cost of living index is 91.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Prairie du Chien costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Prairie du Chien, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$138,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$806
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
62.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$52,400
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Prairie du Chien's violent crime rate is 183.1 per 100,000 residents
— 52% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
183.1 /100k
Property Crime
1410.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Prairie du Chien is served primarily by Prairie du Chien Area School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Prairie du Chien, WI
National Avg
School District
Prairie du Chien Area School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Prairie du Chien sees average highs of 27.1°F in January
and 83.1°F in July,
with 37.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 33.8 inches of snow per year.
Prairie du Chien's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Prairie du Chien roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $138,400 and median rent is $806/month.
Prairie du Chien's violent crime rate is 183.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1410.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Prairie du Chien are operated by Prairie du Chien Area School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1. 16.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Prairie du Chien, WI has a population of 5,502, a median household income of $52,400, and an unemployment rate of 1.6%.
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.
Prairie du Chien averages 27.1°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.7 inches
with about 33.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Prairie du Chien, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 53821.
The population of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin is 5,502 with a median age of 45.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Prairie du Chien: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $138,400, median household income $52,400, crime index 56 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Prairie du Chien side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
