Onalaska and Sun Prairie 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
Onalaska
Sun Prairie
Opportunity
84 · Top 4%
vs81 · Top 6%
Growth
56 · Top 40%
vs49 · Bottom 48%
Climate
56 · Bottom 7%
vs57 · Bottom 9%
Physical resilience
92 · Top 10%
vs97 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 17%
vs87 · Top 39%
Schools
57 · Top 42%
vs57 · Top 43%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
76 · Top 16%
vs80 · Top 7%
Measured values
| Metric | Onalaska | Sun Prairie | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,348 | 37,570 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $85,867 | $90,942 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $52,580 | $47,609 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,823/sq mi | 2,869/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $288,900 | $365,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,130 | $1,419 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.1% | 60.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.4% | -0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.7% | 50.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.0% | 6.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 79 | 93 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.1 | 2.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -33.6% | -40.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 11°F | 12°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.2" | 37.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 3 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 23.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.7 | 36.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 16 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.04 | 12.43 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 42.5% | 42.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 39.5% | 36.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 32.2% | 33.1% | 2024-25 school 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
Onalaska
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Sun Prairie
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.
Onalaska
77
Your Score
76
Area Score
Sun Prairie
76
Your Score
75
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Onalaska, WI · Sun Prairie, WI · How this is calculated: methodology