Rents are 2% above what Wausau's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $954 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 Wausau is 0.8% below its high of $962 in July 2026, at $954 as of September 2026.
Rent in Wausau changed +5.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 42 Wisconsin cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.3%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($64,389) is $1,610 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,400).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Wausau. 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
Wausau, WI is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 30.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Wausau, WI has changed in 5 years
Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $53,800 in 2021 to $64,389 more recently.
Discussions about Wausau
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Can you afford rent in Wausau on your salary?
At $954/mo, how Wausau rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Wausau rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Wausau. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Wausau
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Wausau is $954/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $725/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,055/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $805/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,380/mo.
At 18% of local median household income ($64,389/yr), Wausau ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Wausau?
Which Wausau neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Wausau rent compare to other cities in Wisconsin?
At $954/mo, rent takes ~18% of Wausau's median household income ($64,389/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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