Want to live and work in La Crosse?

La Crosse has about 52,000 residents in the city and roughly 140,000 in the metropolitan area, which includes Onalaska, Holmen, and La Crescent (Minnesota). The majority of the population is white, with strong German, Norwegian, Polish, and Irish heritage, a reflection of 19th-century migration waves to the Midwest.

The most notable immigrant group is the Hmong, originally from Laos, resettled in La Crosse starting in the late 1970s after the Vietnam War. An estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people of Hmong origin live in the city, with a presence in schools, business, and festivals. The Latin American community, primarily Mexican, has been growing over the past two decades, tied to services and regional agriculture.

The presence of UW-La Crosse, Viterbo University, and Western Technical College adds thousands of college students during the academic year, giving the city a younger age profile than other Wisconsin cities of similar size. Families with young children and retirees seeking proximity to hospitals also make up a meaningful share.

The most sought-after neighborhood for young families is North Side, with single-story homes, tree-lined streets, and well-rated schools. Onalaska, the neighboring city to the north technically outside La Crosse limits but integrated into daily life, has the newest housing stock and sits near Valley View Mall. Holmen, a bit further north, has become a destination for those who work in La Crosse but want a larger home and a yard.

Students and young professionals concentrate around the UW-La Crosse campus, in what is called the Lower North Side and near State Street. Shared rentals are common, and walking or biking to campus is feasible. Downtown has historic buildings converted into lofts, with good restaurants and bars at the doorstep.

The South Side of La Crosse offers older homes at lower prices, with neighborhoods like Powell-Hood-Hamilton undergoing revitalization. French Island, an island between the Mississippi and the Black River, is more isolated and subject to seasonal flooding. Those seeking a rural area near the city look to West Salem or Bangor, 15 to 20 minutes away by car.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW-L) is the largest local name, with about 10,000 students, known for programs in physical therapy, biology, exercise science, and physical education. Viterbo University, a Franciscan Catholic school, has a strong program in nursing, music, and theater. Western Technical College offers two-year technical training in areas such as welding, nursing, IT, and culinary arts.

The School District of La Crosse operates four main secondary schools (Logan, Central, Lincoln, and Longfellow), with good ratings compared to other Wisconsin cities. There is also Coulee Region Christian School and the Aquinas Catholic Schools for those seeking religious education. Onalaska and Holmen have their own school districts that are also well rated, which draws families to those suburbs.

For children of immigrants, there are ESL programs in the public schools and the Hmong community maintains cultural support through the Hmong Cultural and Community Agency. UW-L has an international student office with support for F-1 and J-1 visas, and partial scholarships in some graduate programs.

La Crosse has a violent crime rate below the American national average. Most incidents involve theft, drug use, and drinking tied to college life, especially on Thursday through Saturday nights in the Third Ward and on Pearl Street. Families and professionals find the city peaceful in daily life.

North Side, Onalaska, Holmen, and most residential neighborhoods east of downtown are considered very safe. Local police have a good relationship with the community and visible patrolling downtown. Events like Oktoberfest require extra care with crowds and alcohol, but the safety infrastructure is well organized.

Spots to watch include the older South Side, particularly around Powell-Hood-Hamilton, where there are more residential and vehicle thefts. French Island is isolated and subject to flooding. Downtown in the late-night hours on weekends sees occasional fights near bars. None of this is alarming, but it is worth choosing a neighborhood based on routine and profile.

La Crosse was for decades home to G. Heileman Brewing, and the brewing tradition lives on with City Brewery, Pearl Street Brewery, and several smaller craft houses. Downtown bars serve local options and German beers, and nightlife in the Third Ward and on Pearl Street stays busy year-round, driven by college students.

Oktoberfest USA, held since 1961 every late September into early October, is the biggest event of the year: parade, polka music, German food, and the crowning of the Festmaster and Mrs. Oktoberfest. Riverfest, in July, fills the waterfront with concerts, fireworks, and food stands. Hmong New Year, in November or December, showcases the Laotian community's presence with dances, food, and traditional dress.

The food scene mixes Midwestern classics, like Friday fish fry and fried cheese curds, with Hmong cooking at restaurants like Egg Roll Plus, and Norwegian dishes such as lefse and lutefisk at seasonal events. There is no UNESCO site in the city, but the Mississippi River Valley itself is recognized as a national scenic route.

La Crosse is not a high-volume immigrant destination, but it has well-established and integrated communities. The largest is the Hmong, originally from Laos, who began arriving in 1976 as refugees after the Vietnam War. Today they number between 3,000 and 4,000 people, with a presence in schools, businesses on Mormon Coulee Road, restaurants, and organizations like the Hmong Cultural and Community Agency.

The Latin American community, mainly Mexican and Central American, has been growing since the 2000s, drawn by jobs in services, regional agriculture, and construction. There are Latin markets on the South Side, Spanish-language masses at Catholic parishes, and bilingual services at hospitals. The total estimated immigrant population in the city is between 3,000 and 5,000 people, or 6% to 9% of the total.

Indian, Filipino, and Nigerian healthcare professionals arrive via Gundersen and Mayo, generally on H-1B or J-1 visas. International students at UW-L come from China, South Korea, Vietnam, and sub-Saharan African countries. New arrivals find support at organizations such as Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin, Catholic Charities, and the university itself.