Oshkosh vs Wausau
Oshkosh, Wisconsin versus Wausau, Wisconsin: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Oshkosh and Wausau score about the same overall (52 vs 50 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Oshkosh | Wausau |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $59k | $59k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $45k |
| Home Value | $157k | $147k |
| Monthly Rent | $860 | $898 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.09% | 2.00% |
| Income Tax | 7.60% | 7.60% |
| Sales Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.02% | 14.44% |
| Unemployment | 2.9% | 4.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 19°F | 15°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 70°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3 in | 34.7 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.2 in | 63.4 in |
| Sunny Days | 219 days | 211 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 59°F |
| Comfortable Days | 90 days | 81 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 55.3 | 55.1 |
| Air Quality | 39 AQI | 42 AQI |
| School Quality | 68.4 | 55.5 |
| Violent Crime | 1222/100k | 1095/100k |
| Property Crime | 1627/100k | 1283/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 66,373 | 39,906 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 38.6 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.26 | 0.31 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.05 | 0.96 |
| Political Leaning | Even | R+18 |
| White (%) | 83.5% | 79.7% |
| Black (%) | 4.3% | 0.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 4.1% | 4.7% |
| Asian (%) | 4.2% | 10.7% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.0% | 4.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 17 min | 15 min |
| Walkability | 14.4/20 | 9.8/20 |
| Airport Distance | 81 mi | 165 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.8% | 86.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 26.06 | 60.89 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Excellent |
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 Oshkosh or Wausau more affordable?
- Oshkosh has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Oshkosh's $44k and Wausau's $45k. Median rent is $860 in Oshkosh versus $898 in Wausau.
- Is Oshkosh or Wausau safer?
- Wausau has the lower violent crime rate. Oshkosh reports 1222/100k and Wausau reports 1095/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Oshkosh or Wausau?
- The median home value is $157k in Oshkosh and $147k in Wausau, so homes are more affordable in Wausau.