ZIP Code · WI

ZIP 54403

Part of Wausau, WI

Pop. 24,950·Marathon County·100th most expensive ZIP in Wisconsin

Median rent (all units)

$992/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-1.0%

vs US Median

-$940

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 54403 · $992

More affordable than 98% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$790

1 BR

$880

2 BR

$1,140

3 BR

$1,500

4 BR+

$1,510

Research median

$1,140/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($69,030) is $1,726 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,510).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 54401, 10 miles away, rents for 12% less ($872/mo), about $1,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 54403. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$11,904/yr

At $992/mo median

Location

CityWausau

StateWI

CountyMarathon County

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -1.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 54403 (Wausau, WI) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 34.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

24,950

Median income

$69,030

Median age

39.6

Renters

35%

Age distribution

22.5%

20.9%

24.2%

21%

Under 1822.5%

18–3420.9%

35–5424.2%

55–6411.4%

65+21%

Gender

48.5%

51.5%

Male48.5%

Female51.5%

Race & ethnicity

88.3%

White88.3%

Black0.6%

Hispanic3.4%

Asian3.7%

Other4%

Education (25+)

28.8%

32.6%

34.4%

No HS diploma4.1%

HS diploma28.8%

Some college32.6%

Bachelor's+34.4%

Housing tenure

65%

35%

Owner65%

Renter35%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 54403 in Wausau, WI has changed in 5 years

Income

$59,846 → $69,030

up 15.3%

Population

24,774 → 24,950

up 0.7%

Renter share

33% → 35%

+2.0 pts

Bachelor's+

31.5% → 34.4%

+2.9 pts

Median age

42 → 39.6

-2.4 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 54403 in Wausau, WI now reports about $69,030, up from $59,846 in 2021. About 35% of households rent today, against 33% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 31.5% to 34.4%.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 54403

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 54403 covers Wausau, WI. The median rent here is $992/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $880/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,140/mo.

At 17% of local median household income ($69,030/yr), ZIP 54403 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 54403?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $40,000/year (about $19/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $992/mo in ZIP 54403. The local median household income is $69,030/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.