A small western Wisconsin city along the Mississippi River
La Crosse is a 50,000-person city in Wisconsin with a downtown located along the Mississippi River. It’s home to three colleges: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University and Western Technical College. “We have quite a diverse population that comes and goes with our three universities,” Dettmann says. “A lot of those people choose to stay in La Crosse.” Graduates may stay to work for the city’s top employers, the Gunderson and Mayo Clinic Health Systems. The city’s location along the Mississippi lends itself to plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities, and it hosts large annual festivals, such as Riverfest on the Fourth of July and Oktoberfest in the fall. “We have a beautiful landscape and views, and you can’t run out of stuff to do,” says Realtor Renee Dettmann, who’s sold in La Crosse since 1988. “People come through for state track meets or are visiting relatives and will call and say, ‘We live in California but want to move to La Crosse.’”
La Crosse is a top-ten tourist destination in Wisconsin which bought in over $433 million in travel-related income in 2023.
Western Technical College in La Crosse offers affordable higher education for those wishing to expand their skills.
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Downtown La Crosse’s luxury condos, Bluffside’s bungalows and Grandview Emerson’s estates
La Crosse’s neighborhoods offer a range of lifestyles and price points, from houses listed on the National Register of Historic Places to modern luxury condos. The average home value is around $395,000, $160,000 less than the national average. The city’s highest home values are in the Downtown La Crosse, Bluffside and Grandview Emerson neighborhoods. Downtown La Crosse features a mix of luxury condos and 1800s-built single-family homes for $330,000 to $375,000. Bluffside’s bungalows and ranch-style homes range from $175,000 to $450,000. Buyers in Grandview Emerson can find a mix of property types ranging from cozy bungalows in the $200,000s to historic mansions exceeding $1 million. La Crosse’s home values have only risen in the past five years, and homes here sell quickly – after an average of 17 days, less than half the national average of 44. Dettmann advises out-of-state buyers to compare listing prices to the prices of recently sold homes, as she’s seen buyers overpay due to a lack of familiarity with the market.
The Grandview Emerson neighborhood of La Crosse boasts historic mansions which can sell for over $1 million.
La Crosse's Bluffside neighborhood is full of affordable bungalow-styled homes.
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Riverside Park hosts Riverfest and Oktoberfest
La Crosse’s temperate continental Upper Midwest climate and geographical location supply various recreational opportunities. “Being on the Mississippi River, there’s lots of kayaking, canoeing and biking along the river,” Dettmann says. “It’s a very active community.” Downtown’s Riverside Park has trails along the Mississippi and hosts annual events such as Riverfest on the Fourth of July and Oktoberfest in the fall. “During Riverfest, you can’t do business,” Dettmann says. “Everybody’s out partying, and they have out-of-town guests coming in for the holidays. We also have one of the largest Oktoberfests in the Midwest. People come from New York for it.” La Crosse’s summertime recreation ranges from tiki bars and beaches along the river, while skiing is available in winter at Mount La Crosse, which features 19 slopes and trails. Nine miles south, Goose Island Campground is known for its scenic sunsets and fishing in the Mississippi.
The same paved paths that traverse La Crosse are also plentiful at Riverside Park.
Goose Island Park just south of La Crosse sits along the Mississippi River, and has over 350 campsites.
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The La Crosse Center, Pump House Regional Arts Center and La Crosse Community Theatre
La Crosse has a vibrant arts community with over 30 active organizations. “There are many full-time talented musicians who thrive in La Crosse,” Dettmann says. “There’s live music every night – acoustic sets, big bands, tribute productions and festivals.” The Pump House Regional Arts Center hosts jazz, folk and blues performances. The city is home to the La Crosse Symphony and the La Crosse Community Theatre, which has won regional and national awards. The La Crosse Center in Downtown La Crosse puts on sporting events, concerts and trade shows throughout the year.
La Crosse's historic Pump House was converted from a water pumping station to a non-profit arts center.
The La Crosse Community Theater brings patrons from all over the state to view its stage productions.
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The School District of La Crosse and the city’s three universities
The School District of La Crosse receives a B rating from Niche. Its School of Technology and Arts I is a public charter elementary school with an A-minus rating. Top-rated private schools in La Crosse include Providence Academy and Aquinas High School, both with A-minus ratings. La Crosse has three higher education institutions: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, a public university; Western Technical College, a public community college; and Viterbo University, a private Catholic university.
School of Technology and Arts I earned a B- from Niche.
UW-La Crosse is a highly-ranked university with a 69% acceptance rate.
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Third Street nightlife and the Valley View Mall
La Crosse’s dining and nightlife primarily concentrates around Downtown La Crosse, home to Third Street, the popular nightlife district. “On Third Street, we have more bars on one street than any other town in the nation,” Dettmann says. “We were in the Guinness World Records for it. We had 30-something bars. When you’re from La Crosse and you travel, it’s like, ‘Where are your bars? Where is the strip of bars?’” Dettmann explains that when La Crosse was designed, each neighborhood had a small grocery store, a tavern and a church. “Now, there’s just the big grocery stores, but there’s still churches and bars in every neighborhood,” she says. La Crosse’s biggest shopping center is the Valley View Mall, home to over 70 stores, restaurants and a food court.
3rd Street in La Crosse previously won a Guinness World Record award for most bars on a single street.
La Crosse's Valley View Mall hosts nearly 40 retailers, as well as a food court.
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Weather and the La Crosse Police Department
According to the La Crosse Police Department, both violent and property crimes increased in 2023. The city’s property crime rate exceeds the national average, while its violent crime rate is far below it, according to FBI statistics.
La Crosse Municipal Transit Utility, La Crosse Regional Airport and the La Crosse Amtrak station
Major highways including Interstate 90 and U.S. Highways 14, 53 and 61 provide routes around the city. The La Crosse Municipal Transit Utility has 11 bus routes connecting city neighborhoods to the suburbs. The La Crosse Regional Airport has a direct passenger service to Chicago. The La Crosse Amtrak station is served daily by the Borealis, which connects to Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul/Minneapolis, and Empire Builder, which connects to Chicago, St. Paul/Minneapolis, Spokane and Portland/Seattle. La Crosse was the first Wisconsin city to pass the Green Complete Streets ordinance, which accounts for bicycle and pedestrian safety when roads are reconstructed due to stormwater management. The city has nearly 8 miles of unprotected on-street bike lanes, 17 miles of paved bike paths and 12 miles of unpaved trails.
On average, homes in La Crosse, WI sell after 33 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in La Crosse, WI over the last 12 months is $392,500, up 19% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$392,500
Median Sale Price
$392,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$390,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$480,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$339,500
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
68
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
19%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$212
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
2,301
Number of Homes for Sale
8
Median Year Built
1984
Months of Supply
1.40
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,213
Above the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,008
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,208
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
863
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
8,276
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Top Schools in La Crosse, WI
Source:
Best Public Elementary Schools
#1 Eagle Bluff Elementary School
A
Niche
7
GreatSchools
#2 West Salem Elementary School
A-
Niche
6
GreatSchools
#3 Pertzsch Elementary School
A-
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#4 Southern Bluffs Elementary School
B-
Niche
6
GreatSchools
#5 State Road Elementary School
B-
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#6 Emerson Elementary School
B
Niche
4
GreatSchools
#7 Spence Elementary School
B
Niche
4
GreatSchools
#8 Summit Environmental Elementary School
B
Niche
3
GreatSchools
#9 North Woods International School
B-
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Best Public Middle Schools
#1 West Salem Middle School
A-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
#2 Lincoln Middle School
B
Niche
#3 Logan Middle School
C+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
#4 Longfellow Middle School
B-
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Best Public High Schools
#1 Onalaska High School
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#2 Central High School
B
Niche
6
GreatSchools
#3 Logan High School
B
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#4 West Salem High School
B+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Best Private Schools
#1 Aquinas High School
A-
Niche
#2 Providence Academy
A-
Niche
#3 Aquinas Catholic Schools
#4 Aquinas Middle School
#5 Blessed Sacrament School
#6 Chileda
#7 Coulee Connections
#8 Faith Baptist School
#9 Family & Children Centers Alternative Education
With a background as a dedicated Registered Nurse, I bring a unique, client-focused approach to real estate. My passion for helping, guiding, and educating others extends beyond healthcare and into every real estate transaction. I understand that buying or selling a home is one of life's most important decisions, and I am committed to providing personalized service, clear communication, and expert guidance every step of the way. Just as I cared for my patients, I now serve my real estate clients with the same level of professionalism and care, ensuring a smooth and supportive experience from start to finish and beyond.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
