La Crosse-Onalaska and Fond du Lac receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
La Crosse-Onalaska
Fond du Lac
Opportunity
81 · Top 8%
vs71 · Top 21%
Growth
49 · Top 50%
vs44 · Bottom 40%
Climate
56 · Bottom 15%
vs57 · Bottom 16%
Physical resilience
82 · Top 12%
vs95 · Top 1%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 46%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
95 · Top 14%
vs94 · Top 17%
Economic stability
78 · Top 17%
vs85 · Top 8%
Measured values
| Metric | La Crosse-Onalaska | Fond du Lac | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 170,190 | 104,137 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,340 | $74,275 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,247 | $39,105 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 95/sq mi | 145/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $247,400 | $222,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,027 | $960 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.7% | 70.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.4% | 2.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.6% | 22.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 9.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 465 | 195 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.7 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -4.3% | 19.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 11°F | 11°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.2" | 28.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 16 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 22.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.3 | 41.9 | 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.
Fond du Lac
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
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
Fond du Lac
78
Your Score
76
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metro Area · Fond du Lac, WI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology