The Town FilesWausau, Wisconsin
City in Marathon County · population 39,994 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,900
- Household income
- $64,389
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 63 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 38.2
Wausau is a city of 39,994 people in Marathon County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $167,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 98% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 97% of Wisconsin towns.
How Wausau ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wausau is worth $167,900, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $64,389, which is more affordable than 83% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,010 a month. 57.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wausau | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,010 | $951 |
| Median household income | $64,389 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 57.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Wausau
| People | Wausau | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.6% | — |
| Work from home | 14.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 15.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Wausau
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 6.7°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 63.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wausau since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 17, 2026 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 25, 2008.
Severe weather in Marathon County since 1996
Marathon County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Marathon County
Marathon County had 70,626 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,976 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Wausau itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Wausau
16 public schools with 6,591 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High | 9-12 | 1,443 | 14.7 |
| John Muir Middle | 6-8 | 977 | 13.4 |
| Horace Mann Middle | 6-8 | 662 | 13.2 |
| G D Jones Elementary | PK-5 | 547 | 14.0 |
| Riverview Elementary | PK-5 | 495 | 17.7 |
| Thomas Jefferson Elementary | PK-5 | 375 | 12.5 |
| Stettin Elementary | K-5 | 313 | 16.5 |
| Maine Elementary | K-5 | 240 | 13.3 |
| John Marshall Elementary | K-5 | 223 | 11.7 |
| South Mountain Elementary | K-5 | 223 | 12.4 |
| Lincoln Elementary | K-5 | 222 | 10.1 |
| Rib Mountain Elementary | K-5 | 209 | 13.1 |
Towns near Wausau
- Rib Mountain, WI4.8 mi · 6,061 people · home $255,900
- Rothschild, WI6.2 mi · 5,567 people · home $203,600
- Stettin, WI6.6 mi · 2,580 people · home $370,100
- Weston, WI6.8 mi · 15,723 people · home $229,300
- Maine, WI6.9 mi · 2,613 people · home $277,500
- Kronenwetter, WI10.2 mi · 8,353 people · home $273,300
- Mosinee, WI11.9 mi · 4,452 people · home $156,100
- Merrill, WI15.3 mi · 9,347 people · home $123,800
Wausau questions
Is Wausau, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wausau scores better for retirees than 25% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 3%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Wausau?
The median owner-occupied home in Wausau is valued at $167,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,389, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,010 a month.
What is the weather like in Wausau?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 6.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 63.4 inches of snow.
Does Wausau get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wausau since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 17, 2026. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)