Cost of homeownership in La Crosse County, Wisconsin
Real dollar cost of ownership, rent-vs-buy analysis, and flood risk, backed by Census ACS, FEMA, and FHFA data. Population: 120,216.
Total annual ownership cost
Breakdown of what owning a typical home in La Crosse County costs each year.
- Property taxes$3,855
- Insurance estimate$1,500
- Utilities / energy$1,961
- Maintenance (1% of value)$2,266
- Total$9,582/yr · $799/mo
Insurance and energy figures typically vary by property. Adjust in the calculators for a personalized estimate.
Rent vs. buy in La Crosse County
Pre-filled with local median home value, median gross rent (Census ACS / HUD FMR), and current FRED rate.
Flood risk
Historical signal from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.
Historical claims do not capture uninsured properties. A low score does not eliminate flood risk. FEMA flood-zone maps at msc.fema.gov list parcel-level designations.
Full flood-risk breakdown →Home price trend in Wisconsin
FHFA House Price Index, quarterly.
Property tax above state average.
Share of units owner-occupied (Census ACS).
Census ACS 5-year estimate.
Housing cost burden in La Crosse County
Share of households paying 30% or more of income on housing (HUD CHAS 2017-2021). HUD does not publish county-level CHAS rollups through the public API, so Wisconsin state data is shown for local context alongside the US average.
Affordability by income bracket
Monthly 30% housing budget at each income vs the median owner cost in La Crosse County. Bars above the dashed line can absorb this county's typical ownership cost.
HUD area median income (4-person household) for Wisconsin: $104,800. Income limits define 80% AMI at $83,850 and 50% AMI at $52,400.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to own a home in La Crosse County?
Based on Census ACS, typical total annual cost in La Crosse County is around $9,582 ($799 per month), covering property tax, insurance estimate, utilities, and 1% maintenance. Your actual cost varies by home age, size, and location within the county.
What is the property tax in La Crosse County?
Median annual property tax is $3,855 on the county's median home value of $226,600 (Census ACS).
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in La Crosse County?
Annual ownership cost is roughly 19% lower than annual rent at the county's median. Use the calculator below to model your specific situation.
What is the flood risk in La Crosse County?
moderate historical flood-risk score from FEMA NFIP: 37 claims, average claim $5,901.
Data sources
- Census ACS 5-year: FIPS 55063
- FEMA NFIP: flood claims aggregation
- HUD Fair Market Rents
- HUD CHAS: cost-burden rollups
- HUD Income Limits
- FHFA HPI
- FRED MORTGAGE30US: as of 2026-04-23