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Buying a home in La Crosse County, Wisconsin

The typical owner-occupied home in La Crosse County is worth about $257,000, 4% below the Wisconsin median of $266,500 and 23% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,947 a year in property taxes, about 1.54% of their home's value, higher than the Wisconsin rate of 1.42%. The median household earns $73,013 a year, so the median home costs 3.5 times the median income (3.4 times for Wisconsin). 62% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 59% of those owners still have a mortgage.

La Crosse County at a glance

La Crosse County Wisconsin U.S.
Median home value $257,000 $266,500 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,947 $3,792 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.54% 1.42% 0.94%
Median household income $73,013 $77,485 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 62% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 59% 61% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,698 $1,689 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.8% 19.5% 21.0%
Median rent $1,059 $1,087 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.6% 27.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1978 1975 1980
Vacant homes 4.7% 10.8% 10.1%
Population 120,488 5,914,872 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in La Crosse County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median La Crosse County home of $257,000 with 20% down costs about $1,820 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,248, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $77,999 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 30% of the median La Crosse County household income of $73,013; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $241,000.

The median rent here is $1,059 a month, so owning the median home costs about $761 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$51,400
Loan amount$205,600
Principal and interest$1,383
Property taxes (1.54% a year)$330
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$107
PMI$0
Total per month$1,820

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$8,995
Loan amount$252,345
Principal and interest$1,698
Property taxes (1.54% a year)$330
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$107
FHA mortgage insurance$114
Total per month$2,248

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Questions about home buying in La Crosse County

What is the median home value in La Crosse County?

About $257,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in La Crosse County?

Homeowners pay a median $3,947 a year, which is about 1.54% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in La Crosse County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,820 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $77,999 a year.

More about La Crosse County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data