Moving to Wausau
What you need to know before relocating to Wausau, Wisconsin. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Wausau a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Wausau compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($977/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($215,700) are well below the us median; low unemployment rate (2.5%) signals a strong job market.
Wausau at a Glance
Cost of Living in Wausau
The median rent in Wausau is $977/month, while the median home value is $215,700. With a median household income of $74,141, residents spend roughly 16% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Wausau metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Wausau has a median household income of $74,141, which is 1% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.5%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Wausau
The violent crime rate in Wausau is 289 per 100,000 residents, which is 24% below the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 1217 per 100,000 residents.
Education in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has a high school graduation rate of 94% and per-pupil spending of $16,951/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1.
38% of Wisconsin adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
Wisconsin has 298 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 5.1% uninsured rate, and 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Wisconsin is 78.2 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Wausau
+Pros
- ✓Rent ($977/mo) is below the national average
- ✓Home prices ($215,700) are well below the US median
- ✓Low unemployment rate (2.5%) signals a strong job market
- ✓High school graduation rate of 94%
- ✓Low uninsured rate (5.1%) and good healthcare access
-Cons
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (62197 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wausau a good place to live?⌄
Wausau, Wisconsin has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($977/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($215,700) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Wausau?⌄
The median rent in Wausau is $977/month and the median home value is $215,700. The median household income is $74,141. Overall the metro is considered affordable.
Is Wausau safe?⌄
Wausau has a violent crime rate of 289 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Wausau?⌄
Wausau has an unemployment rate of 2.5%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $74,141.