La Crosse

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La Crosse, WI Area Guide

Avg Rent

$1,035

Population

51,928

Renter Mix

53% Rent

Experience the unique lifestyle of one of the Midwest’s hidden gems

College River Interstate Nature Outdoors Technology Medical

Located along the Mississippi River, La Crosse combines natural beauty with a welcoming community atmosphere. This riverside city of approximately 52,680 residents is home to three higher education institutions: the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University, and Western Technical College. The city's rental market shows steady growth, with average one-bedroom apartments renting for $975, reflecting a 4.4% increase over the past year. Housing options span from apartments to historic homes in established neighborhoods like Powell-Poage-Hamilton and the Historic Cass & King district.

La Crosse's landscape features 500-foot bluffs, including Grandad Bluff, offering views across Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. The city's parks system includes Riverside Park along the Mississippi, where the La Crosse Queen paddlewheeler offers sightseeing cruises. Winter brings the popular Rotary Lights display, while summer features Riverfest celebrations. The historic City Brewing Company facility maintains the area's brewing traditions. Downtown La Crosse features local shops and restaurants, while the recently renovated La Crosse Center hosts conventions and entertainment events. The city's Green Complete Streets program has expanded walking paths and bike trails throughout the community, connecting neighborhoods to downtown and recreational areas.

Demographics

Median Household Income

$46,507

Average: $64,648

Education

15,069

Residents Have a Degree

Job Market

27,100

Workers Employed

Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.

Median Age

32 Years

Largest Age Group

20-29 Years

Approximately 26% of Residents

Under 20

21%

Over 65

16%

Housing Distribution

La Crosse has more renters than homeowners.

Renters
53%
Non-Renters
47%

Education Distribution

Review this city's overall education levels.

Bachelor's or Higher
22%
Other Education
78%

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in La Crosse, WI is $757 for a studio, $1,034 for one bedroom, $1,335 for two bedrooms, and $1,647 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in La Crosse has decreased by -1.1% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,034/month
641 Sq Ft
House
$1,848/month
1,203 Sq Ft
Condo
$878/month
147 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,535/month
594 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in La Crosse, WI

Getting Around

Somewhat Walkable

Walkability

30 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Moderately Bikeable

Bikeability

60 / 100

Schools

School Of Technology & Arts

Public

Grades PK-5

116 Students

Southern Bluffs Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

317 Students

State Road Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

311 Students

Emerson Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

311 Students

Spence Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

335 Students

School Of Technology & Arts Ii

Public

Grades 6-8

23 Students

Lincoln Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

277 Students

Longfellow Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

489 Students

Logan Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

369 Students

Coulee Montessori Charter School

Public

Grades PK-8

147 Students

Central High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,008 Students

Logan High

Public

Grades 9-12

754 Students

La Crosse Polytechnic School

Public

Grades 6-12

120 Students

LaCrossroads Charter

Public

Grades 9-12

43 Students

7 Rivers Community High

Public

Grades 9-12

5 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Children's Museum of La Crosse

Commuter Rail

Military Bases

Airports

  • La Crosse Regional

Top Apartments in La Crosse

Houses for Rent in La Crosse

Property Management Companies in La Crosse, WI

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.