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Buying a home in Wausau, Wisconsin

The typical owner-occupied home in Wausau is worth about $167,900, 37% below the Wisconsin median of $266,500 and 50% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,127 a year in property taxes, about 1.86% of their home's value, higher than the Wisconsin rate of 1.42%. The median household earns $64,389 a year, so the median home costs 2.6 times the median income (3.4 times for Wisconsin). 58% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 61% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Wausau at a glance

Wausau Wisconsin U.S.
Median home value $167,900 $266,500 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,127 $3,792 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.86% 1.42% 0.94%
Median household income $64,389 $77,485 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 58% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 61% 61% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,250 $1,689 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.0% 19.5% 21.0%
Median rent $1,010 $1,087 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.3% 27.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1963 1975 1980
Vacant homes 5.8% 10.8% 10.1%
Population 39,996 5,914,872 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Wausau

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Wausau home of $167,900 with 20% down costs about $1,234 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,513, 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 $52,876 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 23% of the median Wausau household income of $64,389; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $204,000.

The median rent here is $1,010 a month, so owning the median home costs about $224 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$33,580
Loan amount$134,320
Principal and interest$904
Property taxes (1.86% a year)$260
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$70
PMI$0
Total per month$1,234

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,876
Loan amount$164,859
Principal and interest$1,109
Property taxes (1.86% a year)$260
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$70
FHA mortgage insurance$74
Total per month$1,513

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Questions about home buying in Wausau

What is the median home value in Wausau?

About $167,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Wausau?

Homeowners pay a median $3,127 a year, which is about 1.86% 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 Wausau?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,234 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $52,876 a year.

More about Wausau

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