Wausau, WI

Census place 5584475 · pop 39,996

C63/ 100
😐 Meh
C
in WI
📍 Wisconsin ranks #7 of 50 states →
🏆 Jobs2.4% · top 4%
🚽 Prop tax1.86% · bottom 13%
Taxes
1.86% property · US 0.99%5.72% sales · US 7.00%up to 7.65% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Property-tax burden1.86%13

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.86% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Physical inactivity30.1%25

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

30.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Broadband access88.7%29

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

88.7% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Adult smoking15.4%30

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

15.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Homeownership57.6%32

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

57.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Median household income$64,38935

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$64,389 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Poverty rate14.6%36

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

14.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Adult obesity36.8%38

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

36.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Income inequality0.4448

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Bachelor's degree or higher30.9%52

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

30.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population growth (5yr)+3.3%52

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+3.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Uninsured adults8.7%59

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

8.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Poor mental health15.8%69

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

15.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Housing cost$167,90080

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$167,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Air quality (AQI)County-level37 AQI81

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

37 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level62/10082

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

62/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time15 min95

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

15 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Rent$1,046/mo95

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,046/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.4%96

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

2.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Wausau: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Wausau, WI a good place to live?
By the numbers, Wausau scores 63/100 — a C (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unemployment rate and its weakest is property-tax burden. Wisconsin overall ranks #7 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Wausau, WI expensive to live in?
Wausau has a median home value of $167,900 and typical rent around $1,046/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Wausau, WI?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (1.86%) — 13/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Wausau, WI best at?
Its strongest measured area is unemployment rate (2.4%) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.