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Onalaska, WI
City in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. ZIP codes: 54650.
Population
19,348
Land area
10.6sq mi
People per sq mi
1,823
ZIP codes
1
Onalaska and its ZIP codes
Onalaska at a glance
- Onalaska is about 17 times as dense as Wisconsin as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 42nd among 808 cities and towns in Wisconsin.
- The median household income is $85,867, 11% above the Wisconsin median of $77,485.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $288,900 (8% above Wisconsin) and median rent is $1,130 a month.
Local data for Onalaska, WI
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Onalaska, WI, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$85,867
Poverty rate
6.0%
Median home value
$288,900
Median rent
$1,130/mo
Homeownership
63.1%
Bachelor's or higher
41.7%
Median age
40.7
Average commute
17.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (8,115), Norwegian Americans (2,724), Irish Americans (2,088).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for La Crosse County. PPP loans are for Onalaska.
Unemployment rate
2.9%
Aug 2026, +0.2 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
PPP loans
$69.6M
771 loans, 7,619 jobs reported
How people get to work
Onalaska, WI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone80.2%
- Carpooled7.8%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.6%
- Bicycle0.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.5%
- Worked from home10.9%
Average one-way commute: 17.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Onalaska, 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
85° / 11°F
35.2 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Onalaska, WI, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
36.2%
U.S. 33.3% +2.9 pts
Diabetes
10.2%
U.S. 12.1% -1.9 pts
Smoking
11.1%
U.S. 12.8% -1.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
5.7%
U.S. 11.1% -5.4 pts
ZIP codes in Onalaska
1 in or overlapping Onalaska. Population shown
Cities near Onalaska
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| French IslandCensus-designated place | 2.1 mi | 2 |
| Brice PrairieCensus-designated place | 4.8 mi | 4.6 |
| La CrosseCity | 5.2 mi | 21.7 |
| La Crescent, MNCity | 5.5 mi | 3.4 |
| HolmenVillage | 5.9 mi | 7.6 |
| Dresbach, MNCensus-designated place | 5.9 mi | 0.9 |
| Dakota, MNCity | 6.9 mi | 0.6 |
| West SalemVillage | 7.4 mi | 3.3 |
| MindoroCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 0.6 |
| Hokah, MNCity | 11 mi | 0.7 |
| BangorVillage | 12 mi | 1.7 |
| St. JosephCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 1.9 |
| TrempealeauVillage | 13 mi | 2 |
| Brownsville, MNCity | 13 mi | 1.8 |
| Pickwick, MNCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 0.6 |
| GalesvilleCity | 15 mi | 1.3 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Onalaska, WI in?
- Onalaska is in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
- What ZIP codes are in Onalaska, WI?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Onalaska include 54650.
- What is the population of Onalaska, WI?
- About 19,348 people live in Onalaska, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Onalaska?
- Nearby places include French Island (2.1 mi), Brice Prairie (4.8 mi), La Crosse (5.2 mi), La Crescent, MN (5.5 mi), Holmen (5.9 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023