Rents are 2% below what La Crosse's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,346 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in La Crosse is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2022.
Rent in La Crosse changed +6.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 42 Wisconsin cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($55,866) is $1,397 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,130); a 3-bedroom is $1,490.
Winona, MN, 24 miles away, rents for 21% less ($1,065/mo), about $3,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for La Crosse. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
La Crosse, WI is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 34.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How La Crosse, WI has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in La Crosse, WI paid around $1,066 a month. That figure now sits near $1,346, up 26.3% from the 2022 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $55,866 today, compared with $47,067 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show La Crosse, WI losing about 1,149 residents over the five-year window, down 2.2% on net. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
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Can you afford rent in La Crosse on your salary?
At $1,346/mo, how La Crosse rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
La Crosse rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in La Crosse. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in La Crosse
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in La Crosse is $1,346/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $775/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,130/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $860/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,490/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($55,866/yr), La Crosse ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in La Crosse?
Which La Crosse neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does La Crosse rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?
At $1,346/mo, rent takes ~29% of La Crosse's median household income ($55,866/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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