The Town FilesOnalaska, Wisconsin
City in La Crosse County · population 18,803 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,900
- Household income
- $85,867
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 40.7
Onalaska is a city of 18,803 people in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $288,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 94% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
How Onalaska ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Onalaska is worth $288,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $85,867, which is more affordable than 37% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,130 a month. 63.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Onalaska | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,130 | $951 |
| Median household income | $85,867 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 63.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Onalaska
| People | Onalaska | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 17.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 89.1% |
Weather in Onalaska
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 10.5°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onalaska since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 5, 1965 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 113 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 28, 2023.
Severe weather in La Crosse County since 1996
La Crosse County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| October 7, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4343: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud |
Jobs and pay in La Crosse County
La Crosse County had 69,521 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,448 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Onalaska itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Onalaska
6 public schools with 2,970 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onalaska High | 9-12 | 926 | 14.2 |
| Onalaska Middle | 6-8 | 659 | 13.7 |
| Northern Hills Elementary | PK-5 | 477 | 13.6 |
| Eagle Bluff Elementary | PK-5 | 471 | 14.3 |
| Pertzsch Elementary | PK-5 | 385 | 13.8 |
| Onalaska Prekindergarten Partner School | PK-PK | 52 | 26.0 |
Towns near Onalaska
- French Island, WI3.5 mi · 4,284 people · home $207,100
- Onalaska, WI4.4 mi · 5,835 people · home $320,100
- Campbell, WI4.5 mi · 4,284 people · home $207,100
- La Crosse, WI4.6 mi · 52,680 people · home $210,100
- West Salem, WI5.9 mi · 5,277 people · home $277,100
- Holmen, WI6.4 mi · 10,661 people · home $285,900
- La Crescent, MN6.5 mi · 5,276 people · home $272,400
- Shelby, WI8.4 mi · 4,804 people · home $301,200
Onalaska questions
Is Onalaska, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Onalaska scores better for retirees than 40% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 5%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Onalaska?
The median owner-occupied home in Onalaska is valued at $288,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,867, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,130 a month.
What is the weather like in Onalaska?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 10.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 46.3 inches of snow.
Does Onalaska get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onalaska since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 5, 1965. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)