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Living in
Menasha.
About
Life in Menasha
This Fox Cities community of about 18,000 people sits on the Fox River and Lake Winnebago with genuine roots—the Menominee people lived here for over 10,000 years before European settlement turned it into a paper and wooden ware production hub. Today, Menasha feels like a stable Midwestern town where people actually stay, with a tight job market (unemployment at 2.9%), median household income around $64,400, and housing costs that won't drain your savings—median home values hover near $192,000 and rent runs about $903 a month. The city is solidly family-oriented with a median age of 38, plenty of married-couple households, and schools that include the bilingual program at Banta Elementary if that matters to you.
Menasha at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Foreign-Born
6.6%
Broadband Internet
90.5%
of households
Population Growth
+0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Menasha: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Menasha, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (33.9%), and 5.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.5%
of residents
65 and Older
14.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.3%
of households
Married Couples
40.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 17% below WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Menasha
In Menasha, rent runs 17% below the WI average, and home values are 28% below the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,621
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1974
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $315,199 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Menasha
Unemployment in Winnebago County, which includes Menasha, is close to the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Menasha: Winnebago County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Winnebago County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Menasha Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.5 min avg
How Menasha residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Menasha, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Appleton International Airport (ATW)
Small hub629k passengers boarded in 2025
- 91 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 57% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Menasha runs 57% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
140.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
443.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Menasha Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
86.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Winnebago County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Winnebago County, which includes Menasha, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 7 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2023 | 13 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 8 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 9 | Winter Storm | $2,000 |
| 2018 | 9 | Winter Storm | $4,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Winnebago County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Outagamie County, WI (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 14 miles from Menasha) is typically good — 264 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
264
per year
Moderate Days
92
per year
Unhealthy Days
6
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Outagamie County, WI (14 mi away)
Climate79°F summers, 13°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Menasha has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 13°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
28°/13°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
34.1"
Annual Snowfall
49.4"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
157
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25°F | 10°F | 1.36" |
| Feb | 29°F | 12°F | 1.13" |
| Mar | 41°F | 22°F | 1.92" |
| Apr | 54°F | 34°F | 3.24" |
| May | 67°F | 46°F | 3.64" |
| Jun | 77°F | 57°F | 4.65" |
| Jul | 82°F | 61°F | 3.78" |
| Aug | 79°F | 60°F | 3.58" |
| Sep | 72°F | 51°F | 3.18" |
| Oct | 58°F | 39°F | 2.84" |
| Nov | 43°F | 28°F | 2.07" |
| Dec | 31°F | 17°F | 1.76" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Menasha
Uninsured
4.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Menasha's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Thedacare Regional Med Ctr - Neenah
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.1 mi away · Neenah
Ascension Ne Wisconsin - St Elizabeth Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.8 mi away · Appleton
Thedacare Regional Medical Center - Appleton Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Appleton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Menasha
Menasha's student/teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Menasha (within 15 miles)
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
14.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,877 students · in-state tuition $8,993 · 60% graduate · median earnings $59,275 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,396 students · in-state tuition $58,794 · 78% graduate · median earnings $59,025 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 58 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Menasha
Menasha has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (58 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
58 mi awayPublic Libraries in Menasha
Elisha D. Smith Public Library
440 First St., Menasha
Cities Near Menasha
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Menasha?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Menasha FAQ
Is Menasha, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Menasha's median rent is $903/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $64,698/year. Median home value is $191,800.
Is Menasha, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Menasha's violent crime rate was 141 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 444 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Menasha, Wisconsin?⌄
Winnebago County, which includes Menasha, has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Menasha, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Menasha is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $903/month and median household income is $64,698/year. The median home value is $191,800. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Menasha, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Menasha is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from