Population 56,976 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in La Crosse
Household size in La Crosse
| Period | La Crosse | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.25 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.27 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.16 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
La Crosse is a place of small households, averaging 2.16 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.25 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 200 Wisconsin cities with 5,000+ people, only 16 have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in La Crosse
| Period | La Crosse | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.1 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.1 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.4 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of La Crosse is 36.4 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.2, mirroring the country. Only eight of the 200 Wisconsin cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in La Crosse
| Period | La Crosse | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in La Crosse than nationally: 9.0%, against 11.6%. Wisconsin as a whole looks much the same.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in La Crosse
Renters in La Crosse
| Period | La Crosse | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.3% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 45.8% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 49.1% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 49.4% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in La Crosse than nationally: 49.4% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 44.6% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 4.2 points, mirroring the country. Only three of the 200 Wisconsin cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in La Crosse
| Period | La Crosse | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in La Crosse than nationally: 7.3%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is up 0.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in La Crosse
| Period | La Crosse | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
La Crosse is a place of older homes: half were built before 1967, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1960 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the north has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in La Crosse
| Period | La Crosse | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $652 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $757 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $867 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,096 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$444 | +$380 | +$606 |
Rent in La Crosse runs $1,096 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $444 a month from 2006–10, a 68% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.6% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the south; the highest are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in La Crosse
Bachelor's degrees in La Crosse
| Period | La Crosse | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.1% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.2% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.5% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.0% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in La Crosse as nationally: 34.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.9 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in La Crosse
| Period | La Crosse | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.0% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.4% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.1% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.4% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in La Crosse: 96.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.4 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in La Crosse
| Period | La Crosse | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in La Crosse runs below the national rate: 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 3.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
La Crosse compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse | 2.16 | 36.4 | 9.0% | 49.4% | 7.3% | 1967 | $1,096 | 34.0% | 96.4% | 3.4% |
| French Island | 2.18 | 48.4 | 7.0% | 22.7% | 4.8% | 1978 | $1,083 | 28.0% | 94.8% | 8.6% |
| La Crescent | 2.27 | 47.9 | 7.6% | 13.7% | 6.8% | 1977 | $859 | 39.6% | 94.4% | 0.9% |
| Shelby | 2.29 | 47.7 | 8.5% | 18.7% | 8.0% | 1991 | $977 | 37.0% | 94.8% | 1.8% |
| Onalaska | 2.27 | 42.2 | 7.0% | 31.6% | 4.4% | 1986 | $1,198 | 40.4% | 98.0% | 3.2% |
| Brownsville | 2.37 | 47.3 | 3.3% | 9.9% | 5.0% | 1976 | $690 | 26.9% | 97.2% | 0.7% |
| Stoddard | 2.39 | 45.2 | 9.4% | 18.3% | 10.1% | 1975 | $1,143 | 26.3% | 92.6% | 2.0% |
| St. Joseph | 2.67 | 42.9 | 6.8% | 14.1% | 2.8% | 1987 | $1,149 | 31.9% | 95.5% | 1.8% |
| Hokah | 2.27 | 43.1 | 8.3% | 15.8% | 4.4% | 1975 | $897 | 27.7% | 97.1% | 0.4% |
| West Salem | 2.64 | 42.0 | 6.9% | 19.7% | 7.2% | 1985 | $1,289 | 42.7% | 97.2% | 3.4% |
| Holmen | 2.55 | 41.2 | 7.3% | 28.9% | 3.7% | 1998 | $1,283 | 35.3% | 96.2% | 0.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Elyria, OH · Kettering, OH · Huntsville, TX · Houma, LA · Garner, NC · Florence, AL · Columbia, TN · Colton, CA · Coconut Creek, FL · Carson City, NV
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up La Crosse. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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