1st Advantage MortgageThe median La Crosse County household earns $73,013, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Wisconsin license first.
On this page
- La Crosse County by the numbers
- La Crosse County income bands
- What stands out in La Crosse County
- La Crosse County industries and commutes
- Where La Crosse County households live
- La Crosse and the rest of La Crosse County
- La Crosse County, Monroe County and other neighbors
- What the numbers mean for La Crosse County borrowers
- Age, degrees and coverage in La Crosse County
- Budget math at the La Crosse County median
- Who licenses lenders for La Crosse County residents
- Checklist for La Crosse County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
La Crosse County by the numbers
Roughly 120,488 residents live in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 12th by population among the state's 72 counties and county equivalents. Its 452 square miles average 267 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. La Crosse County counts toward the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN include it. Of the 10 Census places inside La Crosse County, La Crosse leads by population with about 51,356; 6 of the 10 are incorporated.
La Crosse County income bands
The median household income in La Crosse County is $73,013; statewide it is $77,485, so La Crosse County runs 6% below Wisconsin as a whole. Only 35 Wisconsin counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | La Crosse County | +/- vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.9% | +0.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.5% | -2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.3% | -0.9 pts |
Six-figure households (35%) outnumber those under $35,000 (21%) in La Crosse County. La Crosse County counts about 14,925 residents below the poverty line, 12.4% of the population. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the La Crosse County median.
What stands out in La Crosse County
The 4 La Crosse County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Wisconsin, and what each means for a borrower:
- Homeownership: 62% in La Crosse County. Only 3 of 72 Wisconsin counties are lower. Many renters means few borrowers have home equity to fall back on.
- The share of commutes over 45 minutes: 7% in La Crosse County. Only 7 of 72 Wisconsin counties are lower. Less driving means fewer surprise repair bills.
- On households without a vehicle, La Crosse County sits near the top of Wisconsin at 7.0%, 8th highest of 72. Without a car, transit and ride costs belong in the budget before any payment.
- On the share of adults with a bachelor's degree, La Crosse County sits near the top of Wisconsin at 36%, 7th highest of 72. Student loan payments count in a debt-to-income ratio, so list them.
La Crosse County industries and commutes
Top La Crosse County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 29%; second, retail trade, 14%. Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward education and health care (29% against 23%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 43% of La Crosse County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 7% need 45 or more. No car: 7.0% of La Crosse County households.
| Where residents work | La Crosse County | Difference from Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.6% | +5.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.3% | +3.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | -5.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -2.3 pts |
| Construction | 5.9% | -0.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Where La Crosse County households live
Renters in La Crosse County pay a median of $1,059 a month, 3% below the Wisconsin figure of $1,087. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 44% in La Crosse County, 44% statewide. La Crosse County homes are worth $257,000 at the median, a 3.5-to-1 ratio to income. Owners occupy 62% of homes. Against the median U.S. county, La Crosse County rent is 21% above.
| Cost | La Crosse County | Wisconsin figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 5% | 11% | -6.1 pts |
| Owners | 62% | 68% | -5.7 pts |
| Median home value | $257,000 | $266,500 | 4% lower |
| Median gross rent | $1,059/mo | $1,087/mo | 3% lower |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 22% | -0.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 44% | -0.1 pts |
La Crosse and the rest of La Crosse County
10 Census places fall mainly inside La Crosse County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 96,411 residents, leaving about 20% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. West Salem has the highest median household income on the list ($97,019) and La Crosse the lowest ($55,866), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Bangor ($946) and steepest in Brice Prairie ($1,578). This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse | city | 51,356 | $55,866 | $1,010 | 8 mi |
| Onalaska | city | 19,348 | $85,867 | $1,130 | 5 mi |
| Holmen | village | 11,372 | $79,899 | $1,175 | 9 mi |
| West Salem | village | 5,330 | $97,019 | $1,283 | 1 mi |
| French Island | CDP | 4,188 | $60,202 | $1,030 | 8 mi |
| Brice Prairie | CDP | 1,782 | $94,408 | $1,578 | 10 mi |
| Bangor | village | 1,517 | $81,250 | $946 | 6 mi |
| Rockland | village | 745 | $78,500 | $1,021 | 10 mi |
| St. Joseph | CDP | 548 | $90,625 | $950 | 9 mi |
| Mindoro | CDP | 225 | $66,563 | n/a | 8 mi |
La Crosse County, Monroe County and other neighbors
Six nearby counties, 25 to 33 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Richest neighbor: Houston County, $79,825. Poorest: Jackson County, $68,110. La Crosse County: $73,013. Some neighbors are in Minnesota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a La Crosse County resident follows Wisconsin rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse County | - | $73,013 | $1,059/mo | 62% |
| Monroe County, WI | 25 mi | $69,467 | $914/mo | 73% |
| Houston County, MN | 26 mi | $79,825 | $879/mo | 83% |
| Vernon County, WI | 26 mi | $71,893 | $836/mo | 80% |
| Trempealeau County, WI | 30 mi | $76,313 | $949/mo | 74% |
| Jackson County, WI | 33 mi | $68,110 | $787/mo | 80% |
| Winona County, MN | 33 mi | $70,744 | $907/mo | 69% |
What the numbers mean for La Crosse County borrowers
What the La Crosse County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Age, degrees and coverage in La Crosse County
Bachelor's degree or higher: 36% of La Crosse County adults. About 4% go without health insurance.
| People and households | La Crosse County | Compared with Wisconsin | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.5% | +3.1 pts | +14.3 pts |
| No high school diploma | 3.5% | -3.0 pts | n/a |
| Median age | 37.5 | -2.7 yrs | -4.0 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | +1.8 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Work from home | 11.6% | -1.5 pts | +2.9 pts |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | -0.9 pts | -3.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | +0.6 pts | +1.6 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | -0.1 pts | -1.3 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.4% |
| 60+ min | 3.4% |
Budget math at the La Crosse County median
Here is the La Crosse County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $6,084 gross per month ($73,013 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,059, takes 17% of that
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,131 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who licenses lenders for La Crosse County residents
La Crosse County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. If a La Crosse County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop.
Checklist for La Crosse County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in La Crosse County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in La Crosse County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Wisconsin license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
No city in La Crosse County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in La Crosse County earn?
The median is $73,013; 35% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in La Crosse County?
$1,059 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in La Crosse County?
By population: La Crosse, Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem, French Island. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Will a La Crosse County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Wisconsin as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
What agency protects La Crosse County borrowers?
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions at the state level and the CFPB federally.