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La Crosse, WI
City in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. ZIP codes: 54601, 54603.
Population
51,356
Land area
21.7sq mi
People per sq mi
2,366
ZIP codes
2
La Crosse and its ZIP codes
La Crosse at a glance
- La Crosse is about 22 times as dense as Wisconsin as a whole.
- It is the 12th most populous of 808 cities and towns in Wisconsin.
- Households here earn a median of $55,866 a year, 28% less than the Wisconsin figure of $77,485.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $210,100 (21% below Wisconsin) and median rent is $1,010 a month.
Local data for La Crosse, WI
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals2
- Emergency Rooms2
- Nursing Homes4
- Schools26
- Colleges3
- Libraries2
- Banks12
- Post Offices2
- Parks42
- Grocery Stores19
- Restaurants189
- Affordable Housing6
- Home Health Agencies1
- Hospice Care2
- Dialysis Centers1
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals1
- Community Health Centers2
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment5
- Private Schools8
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities10
- Historic Places27
Housing and community stats
La Crosse, WI, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$55,866
Poverty rate
21.4%
Median home value
$210,100
Median rent
$1,010/mo
Homeownership
46.1%
Bachelor's or higher
34.9%
Median age
30.5
Average commute
15.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (18,776), Irish Americans (7,247), Norwegian Americans (6,729).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for La Crosse County. PPP loans are for La Crosse.
Unemployment rate
2.6%
Sep 2026, +0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$60,973
70,077 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$65,407
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$2.7B
FY 2026, $22,150 per person
How people get to work
La Crosse, WI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone68.9%
- Carpooled8.0%
- Public transit1.8%
- Walked6.6%
- Bicycle1.7%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.1%
- Worked from home11.9%
Average one-way commute: 15.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
La Crosse, WI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: cold wave
Storm events since 1996
727
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
408
1.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
80° / 8°F
37.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone27 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in La Crosse, WI, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.7%
U.S. 33.3% +5.4 pts
Diabetes
9.3%
U.S. 12.1% -2.8 pts
Smoking
14.1%
U.S. 12.8% +1.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.4%
U.S. 11.1% -2.7 pts
ZIP codes in La Crosse
2 in or overlapping La Crosse. Population shown
Cities near La Crosse
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| French IslandCensus-designated place | 3.4 mi | 2 |
| La Crescent, MNCity | 3.7 mi | 3.4 |
| OnalaskaCity | 5.2 mi | 10.6 |
| Hokah, MNCity | 7.3 mi | 0.7 |
| Dresbach, MNCensus-designated place | 7.7 mi | 0.9 |
| Brownsville, MNCity | 8.2 mi | 1.8 |
| Brice PrairieCensus-designated place | 9 mi | 4.6 |
| Dakota, MNCity | 9.4 mi | 0.6 |
| West SalemVillage | 9.4 mi | 3.3 |
| St. JosephCensus-designated place | 9.6 mi | 1.9 |
| StoddardVillage | 11 mi | 0.6 |
| HolmenVillage | 11 mi | 7.6 |
| ChaseburgVillage | 13 mi | 0.8 |
| BangorVillage | 13 mi | 1.7 |
| Coon ValleyVillage | 14 mi | 1.1 |
| MindoroCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 0.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is La Crosse, WI in?
- La Crosse is in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
- What ZIP codes are in La Crosse, WI?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping La Crosse include 54601, 54603.
- What is the population of La Crosse, WI?
- About 51,356 people live in La Crosse, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near La Crosse?
- Nearby places include French Island (3.4 mi), La Crescent, MN (3.7 mi), Onalaska (5.2 mi), Hokah, MN (7.3 mi), Dresbach, MN (7.7 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023