What are the schools like in Waupaca, WI?

Waupaca is served primarily by Waupaca School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

What is the median household income in Waupaca?

The median household income in Waupaca, WI is $56,076 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.2%.

What is the weather like in Waupaca, WI?

Waupaca has an average high temperature of 25.1°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 49.3 inches.

Waupaca, WI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Waupaca, WI affordable or expensive?

Waupaca's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waupaca is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $154,300 and the median rent is $747 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Waupaca, WI?

Waupaca has a violent crime rate of 362.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1369.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waupaca, WI a Good Place to Live?

Waupaca is a small town of 6,294 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $56,076 and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Waupaca 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: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Waupaca is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Waupaca 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

Waupaca's overall cost of living index is 91.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waupaca costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Waupaca, WI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$154,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$747	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,076	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Waupaca's violent crime rate is 362.1 per 100,000 residents — 5% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

362.1 /100k

Property Crime

1369.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Waupaca is served primarily by Waupaca School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waupaca, WI	National Avg
School District	Waupaca School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waupaca sees average highs of 25.1°F in January and 82.0°F in July, with 33.8 inches of annual precipitation and 49.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Waupaca, WI
Average High — January	25.1°F
Average High — July	82.0°F
Annual Precipitation	33.8"
Annual Snowfall	49.3"

Demographics

Metric	Waupaca, WI	National Avg
Population	6,294	—
Median Age	42.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	19.5%	22.2%
65 and over	22.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

King, WI 3 mi Chain O' Lakes, WI 5 mi Weyauwega, WI 7 mi Ogdensburg, WI 8 mi Scandinavia, WI 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Waupaca

Waupaca, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

54981

Waupaca vs Other Cities

Waupaca, WI vs King, WI Waupaca, WI vs Chain O' Lakes, WI Waupaca, WI vs Weyauwega, WI Waupaca, WI vs Ogdensburg, WI Waupaca, WI vs Scandinavia, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waupaca, WI affordable or expensive?

Waupaca's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Waupaca roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $154,300 and median rent is $747/month.

What is the crime rate in Waupaca, WI?

Waupaca's violent crime rate is 362.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1369.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waupaca?

Public schools in Waupaca are operated by Waupaca School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 23.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waupaca, WI a good place to live?

Waupaca, WI has a population of 6,294, a median household income of $56,076, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. 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.

What is the weather like in Waupaca?

Waupaca averages 25.1°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.8 inches with about 49.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waupaca?

Waupaca, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54981.

What is the population of Waupaca?

The population of Waupaca, Wisconsin is 6,294 with a median age of 42.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waupaca?

Key numbers for living in Waupaca: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $154,300, median household income $56,076, crime index 83 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waupaca side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.