Wausau

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Wausau, WI

Area Guide

Get ready to "chalk" about Wausau’s fine collection of sidewalk art!

Affordable Breweries University Nature Events Nightlife Wisconsin

Nestled along the Wisconsin River, Wausau combines small-city charm with abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. The heart of downtown centers around the 400 Block, a community gathering space that hosts festivals and events throughout the summer. The city's rental market remains affordable, with average one-bedroom apartments renting for $941, showing a modest 2.4% increase over the past year. Two-bedroom units average $1,249, while three-bedroom homes command around $1,874.

Outdoor enthusiasts appreciate Granite Peak Ski Area, which features Wisconsin's highest vertical drop at 700 feet. The city maintains 37 parks across 337 acres, while downtown's Whitewater Park draws kayakers to its Class I-II+ rapids. Cultural attractions include the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, home to the internationally acclaimed "Birds in Art" exhibition, and the restored Grand Theater, a performing arts venue dating to 1927. The local economy spans healthcare, insurance, and manufacturing sectors, while the area's agricultural heritage includes its position as a major ginseng cultivation center. The region is also known for its distinctive red granite quarries.

Explore the City

East Towne Wausau residents have access to downtown retail, like Sweets on 3rd, a coffee and sweets shop.

The eastern portion of Wausau has some of the larger historic builds, including Victorian styles.

The Wisconsin River flows through Wausau, and is easily accessible to residents of East Towne.

Rent Trends

As of December 2025, the average apartment rent in Wausau, WI is $1,141 for a studio, $1,019 for one bedroom, $1,273 for two bedrooms, and $1,821 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Wausau has increased by 5.1% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,019/month
723 Sq Ft
House
$1,300/month
976 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Wausau, WI

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Wausau, WI is 6.2% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Wausau is 19.4% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,019 - $1,821. You can expect to pay 0.8% less for groceries, 3.6% more for utilities, and 2.6% less for transportation.

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Transportation

47

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

56

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Hewitt-Texas Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

98 Students

Maine Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

240 Students

South Mountain Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

233 Students

Thomas Jefferson Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

384 Students

Stettin Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

329 Students

John Muir Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

1,006 Students

Horace Mann Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

683 Students

East High

Public

Grades 9-12

902 Students

West High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,446 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Woodson Art Museum
  • Granite Peak Ski Area
  • Rib Mountain State Park

Airports

  • Central Wisconsin

Top Apartments in Wausau

Houses for Rent in Wausau

Property Management Companies in Wausau, WI

Living in Wausau

Restaurants

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You'll find many national chains in Wausau in addition to smaller restaurants that are stapes in the community. Stop by The Mint downtown for burgers and shakes and to check out the signature left by B.B. King. If you're in a hurry, the mall offers everyone's favorite, bourbon chicken, at a Mongolian restaurant. With a large Southeast Asian population, there are plenty of Chinese, sushi and Vietnamese restaurants. Chang Garden offers upscale dining while you can stuff yourself at any number of buffets.

Don't be afraid to try out some of those hole-in-the-wall types. Some of the best burgers come from bars like B & R or Hiawatha; although, you'll get an impressive spread from Milwaukee Burger. If you want something more substantial, sink your teeth into a steak in downtown's City Grill, which is below the Jefferson St. Inn.

Hometown favorites such as Iozzos and Carmelos cater to you Italian lovers, too. Angelo's on 6th Street makes some of the best pizza around, and you'll get a unique dining experience at Red Eye Brewery, which is a micro-brewery with modern food.

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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 November 2025.