La Crosse-Onalaska receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
La Crosse-Onalaska
Cedar Rapids
Opportunity
81 · Top 8%
vs62 · Top 37%
Growth
49 · Top 50%
vs41 · Bottom 34%
Climate
56 · Bottom 15%
vs57 · Bottom 17%
Physical resilience
82 · Top 12%
vs79 · Top 16%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 46%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
95 · Top 14%
vs94 · Top 17%
Economic stability
78 · Top 17%
vs87 · Top 7%
Measured values
| Metric | La Crosse-Onalaska | Cedar Rapids | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 170,190 | 276,624 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,340 | $78,080 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,247 | $43,062 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 95/sq mi | 138/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $247,400 | $211,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,027 | $928 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.7% | 75.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.4% | -1.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.6% | 32.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 9.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 465 | 901 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.7 | 3.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -4.3% | -19.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 11°F | 11°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.2" | 35.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 21.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.3 | 39.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
La Crosse-Onalaska
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Cedar Rapids
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
La Crosse-Onalaska
77
Your Score
76
Area Score
Cedar Rapids
74
Your Score
70
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metro Area · Cedar Rapids, IA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology