Relocation profile · Federal data
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
LiveAbility 62.1/100 places La Crosse-Onalaska #34 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 91.8
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,166
- 2BR rent / mo
- $65,600
- Median salary
- 62.1
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, La Crosse-Onalaska ranks #34 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (62.1/100), with its strongest marks in air quality and housing.
- #34
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 5,960,975
- metro-area population
- 280
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 2,205
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: climate (18/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), La Crosse-Onalaska ranks #34 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 91.8 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,166/mo, median salary $65,600; LiveAbility Score 62.1/100, strongest in air quality and housing.
Signature: LiveAbility 62.1/100 places La Crosse-Onalaska #34 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 91.8 between corpus terciles 91.5 and 97.0. Median 2BR rent $1,166/mo.
LiveAbility 62.1/100 puts La Crosse-Onalaska in the top third (#34 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the La Crosse-Onalaska area is 78,110.
La Crosse-Onalaska vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
62 Top 9% higher than 91% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
La Crosse-Onalaska housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the La Crosse-Onalaska MSA; housing RPP 69.4 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,166/mo.
La Crosse-Onalaska wages and employment
La Crosse-Onalaska posts 78,110 total employment with median salary $65,600.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $98,370 |
| Retail Salespersons | $34,090 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $37,140 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,300 |
| Cashiers | $30,900 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the La Crosse-Onalaska area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the La Crosse-Onalaska area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
La Crosse-Onalaska's composite Life Score is 56.7/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →La Crosse-Onalaska ranks #34 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 62.1/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
La Crosse-Onalaska - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Air quality
Air quality
86 /100
- Housing
Housing
71 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
67 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
65 /100
- Job market
Job market
64 /100
- Safety
Safety
61 /100
- Schools
Schools
53 /100
- Climate 18
Climate
18 /100
What this shows La Crosse-Onalaska's strongest dimensions are air quality and housing; its weakest among scored dims is climate at 18/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare La Crosse-Onalaska to
Metros near La Crosse-Onalaska on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to La Crosse-Onalaska on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
La Crosse-Onalaska cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; La Crosse-Onalaska wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about La Crosse-Onalaska?
La Crosse-Onalaska runs a $65,600 median salary at a 91.8 cost index, ranking #34 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what La Crosse-Onalaska's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put La Crosse-Onalaska head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare La Crosse-Onalaska
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.