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Living in
Wausau.
About
Life in Wausau
Wausau offers a genuinely affordable Midwestern lifestyle with a median home value about $170,000 and median household income near $64,000, paired with a strong job market where unemployment sits at just 2.9% and commutes average 15 minutes. The Hmong community here represents a real cultural presence—not a tourist angle—with deep roots going back decades; you'll find genuine cultural events like the Hmong New Year alongside mainstream attractions like the Grand Theater and Granite Peak Ski Area. Winter is the trade-off: this is Wisconsin's snow country with cold, long winters, though Rib Mountain and nearby trails offer legitimate outdoor recreation for those who embrace it.
Wausau at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.6%
Foreign-Born
7.6%
Broadband Internet
88.7%
of households
Population Growth
+0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.6% foreign-born, most often from Laos
Who lives in Wausau: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Wausau, the largest foreign-born group is from Laos (29.7%), and 6.5% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
22.0%
of residents
65 and Older
19.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.5%
of households
Married Couples
36.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.22
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 7% below WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Wausau
In Wausau, rent runs 7% below the WI average, and home values are 37% below the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,127
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $247,839 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Wausau
Unemployment in Wausau is close to the WI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Wausau Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.4 min avg
How Wausau residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Wausau, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 92% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA)
Regional airport · few flights88k 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 22% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Wausau runs 22% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
257.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
744.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Wausau Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Marathon County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Marathon County, which includes Wausau, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Hail | None reported |
| 2024 | 15 | Hail | $73,000 |
| 2023 | 15 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 11 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 21 | Winter Storm | $175,500 |
| 2018 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $157,000 |
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
Marathon County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Marathon County, which includes Wausau, is typically good — 262 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
262
per year
Moderate Days
71
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Marathon County, county-wide
Climate78°F summers, 10°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Wausau has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 10°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
53°/33°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
55°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
26°/10°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
34.7"
Annual Snowfall
63.4"
Hot Days/Year
5
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
163
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23°F | 7°F | 1.20" |
| Feb | 27°F | 10°F | 1.08" |
| Mar | 40°F | 21°F | 1.83" |
| Apr | 54°F | 32°F | 3.12" |
| May | 67°F | 45°F | 3.79" |
| Jun | 76°F | 55°F | 4.67" |
| Jul | 80°F | 59°F | 3.86" |
| Aug | 78°F | 57°F | 4.07" |
| Sep | 70°F | 49°F | 3.83" |
| Oct | 56°F | 37°F | 3.07" |
| Nov | 40°F | 25°F | 1.85" |
| Dec | 28°F | 14°F | 1.54" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Wausau
Wausau has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
7.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
North Central Health Care
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Marshfield Medical Center - Weston
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Weston
Aspirus Merrill Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 14.9 mi away · Merrill
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.
Education13.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Wausau
Wausau's student/teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 30.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 67 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Wausau
Wausau has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (67 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
67 mi awayPublic Libraries in Wausau
Marathon County Public Library
300 N. First St., Wausau
Cities Near Wausau
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Wausau?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Wausau FAQ
Is Wausau, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Wausau's median rent is $1,010/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $64,389/year. Median home value is $167,900.
Is Wausau, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Wausau's violent crime rate was 258 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 744 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Wausau, Wisconsin?⌄
Wausau 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 Wausau, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Wausau is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,010/month and median household income is $64,389/year. The median home value is $167,900. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Wausau, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Wausau is 15 minutes, which is shorter than 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