Cost of living in the La Crosse Metro Area
3 counties across WI and MN. Population: 169,945.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the La Crosse Metro Area
Average rent across the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the La Crosse Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 3 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the La Crosse Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the La Crosse Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 3 counties in the La Crosse Metro Area
The La Crosse-Onalaska metro area includes 3 counties across WI and MN. Sorted by population.
- La Crosse County WI$2,915/moPop120,262 Rent$912/mo Income$70,704/yrLa Crosse County WI 120,262 $912/mo $70,704/yr $2,915/mo
- Vernon County WI$2,774/moPop30,915 Rent$728/mo Income$69,556/yrVernon County WI 30,915 $728/mo $69,556/yr $2,774/mo
- Houston County MN$3,144/moPop18,768 Rent$912/mo Income$77,087/yrHouston County MN 18,768 $912/mo $77,087/yr $3,144/mo
Compare counties in the La Crosse Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the La Crosse Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the La Crosse Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area is approximately $2,915 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 3 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the La Crosse Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area is $879 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the La Crosse Metro Area?
Vernon County, WI is the most affordable county in the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area at approximately $2,774 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the La Crosse Metro Area?
Houston County, MN is the most expensive county in the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area at approximately $3,144 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the La Crosse Metro Area?
The La Crosse-Onalaska metro area covers 3 counties across WI and MN. The five largest by population are La Crosse County, Vernon County, Houston County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.