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La Crosse vs Stevens Point

La Crosse, Wisconsin versus Stevens Point, Wisconsin: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

La Crosse

Mixed · objective livability45/100

Stevens Point

Mixed · objective livability50/100

Stevens Point edges out La Crosse on overall objective livability (50 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorLa CrosseStevens Point
Affordability
Median Household Income$52k$54k
Cost of Living$46k$45k
Home Value$183k$176k
Monthly Rent$941$855
Monthly Owner Costs$1k$1k
Property Tax Rate2.12%1.82%
Income Tax7.60%7.60%
Sales Tax5.70%5.70%
Estimated total tax burden16.99%15.46%
Unemployment3.5%4.9%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)19°F15°F
Summer Temp (Jul)75°F70°F
Annual Precipitation37.5 in34.0 in
Annual Snowfall54.2 in48.7 in
Sunny Days216 days211 days
Summer Humidity63°F59°F
Comfortable Days82 days81 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk50.464.4
Air Quality51 AQI54 AQI
School Quality66.768.3
Violent Crime1309/100k609/100k
Property Crime3132/100k958/100k
Community
Population52,04325,549
Median Age30.028.4
Racial Diversity0.200.21
Male/Female Ratio0.941.03
Political LeaningD+14Even
White (%)88.3%87.8%
Black (%)2.1%1.6%
Hispanic (%)2.4%3.8%
Asian (%)4.0%3.3%
Other / Multiracial (%)3.1%3.4%
Getting Around
Commute Time17 min17 min
Walkability14.1/208.8/20
Airport Distance123 mi137 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access85.0%90.7%
Amenities Nearby47.6573.58
Park & Nature AccessGoodExcellent

Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is La Crosse or Stevens Point more affordable?
Stevens Point has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with La Crosse's $46k and Stevens Point's $45k. Median rent is $941 in La Crosse versus $855 in Stevens Point.
Is La Crosse or Stevens Point safer?
Stevens Point has the lower violent crime rate. La Crosse reports 1309/100k and Stevens Point reports 609/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in La Crosse or Stevens Point?
The median home value is $183k in La Crosse and $176k in Stevens Point, so homes are more affordable in Stevens Point.
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