Lake, 2005
Onalaska’s story
175 years in pictures
Census counts: 826 in 1880, a low of 826 in 1880, 18,803 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 1888 and 5 maps from 1927 on.
- 1851Onalaska is settled
Town of OnalaskaWI
Trash day: look up yoursPopulation
5,809
2025 Census estimate · −0.6% since 2020
Median home value
$320K
Census ACS
Household income
$107K
median
Median age
43.5
years
Jobs based here
1,399
A commuter town
TownGrade
B+
#183 of 357 in WI
Is Onalaska a good place to live?
Onalaska grades B+ overall, ranked 183rd of 357 in Wisconsin, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. The median household earns $107K and it is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns. It also does better than most on schools: its schools outperform 70% of the state's. Its lowest everyday mark is in cost of living: the typical home is worth about $320K, 4.4 years of the La Crosse metro’s $73K median household income. 16% of the land in Onalaska is conserved, above both the Wisconsin town median (3.8%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). Only 7 of Wisconsin’s 869 towns score lower on civic life. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 77% of U.S. towns.
What makes Onalaska stand out
Where Onalaska beats most towns.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Onalaska for work
Where Onalaska’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,399jobs based in Onalaska
3%of working residents work in town
8 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Onalaska grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Onalaska is from typical.
Jobs & incomeAOpen →HealthMayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center 11.8 miles awayA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.7 of 20; 1.7% of households have no car; 0.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →Cost of livingCOpen →SchoolsB+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 23% of U.S. communities; cold waves tops the listB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsB+Open →History6 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life0 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Onalaska: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Onalaska, and how to reach them.
PowerRiverland Energy Cooperative16.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterOnalaska WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers87% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressDay by addressTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Wisconsin you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 20 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTown of Onalaska ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP codes54650, 5463654650 81% · 54636 19%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Onalaska.
HealthA−
Onalaska’s grade for health is an A−
31% of Onalaska adults have high blood pressure, against 33% in Wisconsin’s towns and 35% across U.S. towns. 12% of adults report frequent physical distress in Onalaska. Onalaska beats the Wisconsin average on 12 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
78%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Onalaska | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 33% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
12 better20 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Onalaska | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.3% | 12.1% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5.7% | 8% |
Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center
11.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
73rd
percentile among WI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
70%of WI districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great River Montessori PrivateLargest elementary schoolGrades PK–3 | Grades PK–3 | 41 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Onalaska has 0.5 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Onalaska for work: only 3% work in town. Jobs based in Onalaska grew to 1,399 in 2023, 282 more than in 2013. 2.7% of Onalaska residents live below the poverty line.
3%work in town
| Onalaska | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $107,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 15% | 12% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Onalaska3%
La Crosse41%
Onalaska15%
Holmen7%
West Salem3%
8 mi
median commute distance
1,399
jobs based in Onalaska
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 23% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Onalaska faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by cold waves
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 77% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Onalaska.
23risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingTornadoes
4
paid flood claims since 1978
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsB+
Onalaska has set aside 16.4% of its land for conservation
4.8 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves. The trail density in Onalaska is 0.1 miles per square mile.
#254for trails in WI
16.4%
conserved · 4,451 of 27,108 acres
4.8 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge | 1.1 mi | 3,377 |
| 2. Apple Valley Bluff | — | 17 |
| 3. Sandy Knolls Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Onalaska has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Onalaska has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 8° and about 43 inches of snow falls in a winter.
43″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–29°
Spring36–57°
Summer60–81°
Fall39–59°
Oct 11
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Wisconsin overall
Adults 18 to 34 are 15% of residents (22% statewide). 41% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Wisconsin.
43.5median age · WI 40.2
| Onalaska | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 41% | 32% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 24% | 21% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 22% | 20% | 18% |
| Median age | 43.5 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
OnalaskaWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school19%
Some college21%
Associate’s17%
Bachelor’s26%
Graduate15%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.7 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women. Median age: women 43.6, men 43.2.
| Onalaska | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.5% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.8% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3.6% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.2% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.4% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.4% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.6% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 15.5% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.4% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 18.9% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 21% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 17.1% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 25.7% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.9% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Onalaska
19pages on Onalaska
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Onalaska
University of Wisconsin-La CrosseUniversity or college · Public · La Crosse10.9 mi$10,070 in-state tuitionWestern Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · La Crosse11.1 mi$4,820 in-state tuitionViterbo UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · La Crosse11.9 mi$34,250 tuition
About 4 of every 100 Onalaska residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
Famous people from Onalaska
6 notable people were born in Onalaska.
About Onalaska
City in the United States
Onalaska ( ON-ə-LASS-kə) is a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 18,803 at the 2020 census. It is a principal city of the La Crosse–Onalaska metropolitan area. Onalaska is built on a slightly elevated ridge above the Black River. Natural areas include both river bottom land and high, heavily wooded, scenic bluffs. A man-made reservoir at the city's western edge is known as Lake Onalaska. Onalaska is known as "The Sunfish Capital of the World."
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1851
- Area
- 11 sq mi
- Elevation
- 656 ft
- ZIP code
- 54650
- Area code
- 608
Onalaska’s neighbors
10 towns share a border with Onalaska.
HolmenOnalaskaHollandNew Hartford TownshipRichmond TownshipCampbellHamiltonLa CrosseMedaryFarmingtonOnalaska
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onalaska | #183 | B+ | C | — | B+ | A− |
| Holmen | #110 | A− | C− | A | B+ | B+ |
| Onalaska | #210 | B | C | C+ | B+ | A− |
| Holland | #136 | A− | C+ | — | B+ | A− |
| Campbell | #319 | C | C+ | A− | C | C− |
| Hamilton | — | — | C | — | A− | A− |
| La Crosse | #342 | C− | C | D | C | B− |
| Medary | — | — | C | — | C | B |
Hamilton and Medary have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Onalaska, Holland, Hamilton and Medary report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Onalaska with a neighbor →
Questions about Onalaska
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Onalaska, WI a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Onalaska grades B+ overall, better than 67% of U.S. towns and #183 of 357 in Wisconsin. It grades A− for health and B+ for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Onalaska, WI expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
What is Onalaska, WI known for?
6 notable people were born here, including Carlie Hanson and Leila Usher.