La Crosse County, WI

This county of 121,396 residents needs 1,747 more housing units over the next five years. La Crosse County is part of the La Crosse Area Planning Committee.

Housing snapshot

Population
121,396 (2026)
Households
51,839
Median household income
$80,434 (2026)
Typical home value
$302,759
Owner-occupied
59%
Five-year housing need
1,747 units

Comparison to other Wisconsin counties

La Crosse County: $80,434 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$59K >$107K
La Crosse County: 1.35 jobs to household ratio
<0.47 >1.52
La Crosse County: Permits since 2021 represent 4.2% of housing
<1.1% >7.6%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

At $302,759, typical home prices in La Crosse County, WI are close to the Wisconsin average of $296,335. With a median household income of $80,434 in La Crosse County, WI, housing costs are a modest stretch for the typical household.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

La Crosse County, WI has a population of roughly 120,488 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

La Crosse County, WI has roughly 51,839 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

In La Crosse County, WI, detached single-family accounts for 59% of the housing stock. Homeownership is the norm in La Crosse County, WI, with 59% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, La Crosse County, WI needs 1,747 new units over the next 5 years.

1,747
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
402
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.5 per 1,000 units.
360
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.4%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
985
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 2.9%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
1,747
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
349
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
3.2%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.6%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?