Signals
Wausau
Beaver Dam
Growth
39 · Bottom 33%
vs31 · Bottom 21%
Climate
54 · Bottom 8%
vs57 · Bottom 16%
Physical resilience
86 · Top 9%
vs95 · Top 1%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs99 · Top 30%
Access
57 · Bottom 18%
vs81 · Top 42%
Economic stability
93 · Top 2%
vs85 · Top 8%
Measured values
| Metric | Wausau | Beaver Dam | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 138,403 | 88,742 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $77,884 | $75,929 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,413 | $38,304 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 90/sq mi | 101/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $219,600 | $231,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $999 | $988 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.3% | 71.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 20.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 8.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 340 | 234 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.5 | 2.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -19.4% | -35.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 80°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 7°F | 11°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.9" | 28.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 75 mi | 38 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 25.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.3 | 43.0 | 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.
Your best match
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Wausau
72
Your Score
72
Area Score
Beaver Dam
75
Your Score
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Wausau, WI Metro Area · Beaver Dam, WI Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology