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City · 5,491 residents · Crawford County, Wisconsin

Prairie du Chien , Wisconsin

In Prairie du Chien, a typical home is worth $161,300 and typical rent is $795 a month. Compared with all of Crawford County, typical household income is 15% lower, the typical home value is 12% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 10 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $161,300

    12% below the county

    39% below Wisconsin

    • Prairie du Chien
    • Crawford
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical rent

    $795a month

    About the same as the county

    27% below Wisconsin

    • Prairie du Chien
    • Crawford
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical household income

    $54,268a year

    15% below the county

    30% below Wisconsin

    • Prairie du Chien
    • Crawford
    • Wisconsin

  • Households that own their home

    67%

    10 points below the county

    1 points below Wisconsin

    • Prairie du Chien
    • Crawford
    • Wisconsin

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$211,715
6.6% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Prairie du Chien is in Crawford County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Crawford County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Prairie du Chien apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Prairie du Chien has the 8th lowest typical rent of the 154 cities in Wisconsin with more than 5,000 people ($795).

  2. Prairie du Chien has the 10th lowest typical household income of the 156 cities in Wisconsin with more than 5,000 people ($54,268).

  3. 67% of households in Prairie du Chien own their home, against 77% in Crawford County.

  4. Prairie du Chien has the 13th lowest typical home value of the 156 cities in Wisconsin with more than 5,000 people ($161,300).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Prairie du Chien

What homes there are in Prairie du Chien, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

As in Crawford County, most homes in Prairie du Chien are detached houses (74%).

Year built

Homes in Prairie du Chien are older: the typical year built is 1961; in Crawford County, 1978.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,166 a month

Crawford County: $1,379 a month

Without a mortgage

$559 a month

Crawford County: $548 a month

Owners with a mortgage

45%

Crawford County: 45%

Owning costs less in Prairie du Chien: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,166 a month; in Crawford County, $1,379. Without one, $559.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Prairie du Chien rose 37% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Crawford County (37%).

The typical rent in Prairie du Chien rose 20% over the same time; in Crawford County, it rose 24%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasurePrairie du ChienCrawford CountyWisconsinUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate9.1%4.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.5%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.152.272.332.53
Drive alone 76%77%74%69%
Carpool 13%10%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate7%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Prairie du Chien are smaller: 2.15 people on average; in Crawford County, 2.27.

More people carpool to work in Prairie du Chien than in Crawford County: 13% against 10%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Prairie du Chien?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Prairie du Chien, worth $161,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Prairie du Chien, which is $54,268 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $63,672 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Crawford County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Prairie du Chien. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $5,646 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,486

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$158,378
Total interest
$227,869
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,724 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,266 a month

  • Tight

    $1,266 to $1,628 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $1,628 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Prairie du Chien ($54,268 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,486
Principal & interest$1,073
Property tax$274
Home insurance$67
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$71

You need at least $5,646 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Prairie du Chien and Crawford County

Prairie du Chien is in Crawford County, Wisconsin. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Prairie du Chien's own numbers

Typical home value
$161,300
Typical monthly rent
$795
Typical yearly household income
$54,268
Households that own their home
67%
Effective property tax rate
2.04%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Crawford County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,014
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+55%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
9.7%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Crawford County.

Everything about Crawford County

Buying

Buying a home in Prairie du Chien

A typical home in Prairie du Chien is worth $161,300: 12% below the county and 39% below Wisconsin. With the typical household income in Prairie du Chien ($54,268 a year), a typical home costs 3.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Prairie du Chien 3.0 years
  • Crawford 2.9 years
  • Wisconsin 3.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Crawford County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Crawford County rose 83% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Crawford County.

Period County Wisconsin U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.8% +5.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +55% +57% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +83% +96% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Prairie du Chien next to Crawford County, Wisconsin and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Prairie du Chien $161,300
  • Crawford $183,400
  • Wisconsin $266,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Prairie du Chien $795
  • Crawford $789
  • Wisconsin $1,087
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Prairie du Chien $54,268
  • Crawford $64,094
  • Wisconsin $77,485
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Prairie du Chien next to Crawford County and Wisconsin
Measure Prairie du Chien Crawford County Wisconsin U.S.
Typical home value $161,300 $183,400 $266,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $795 $789 $1,087 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $54,268 $64,094 $77,485 $80,734
Households that own their home 67% 77% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,295 $2,861 $3,792 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.04% 1.56% 1.42% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 34% 32% 44% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Crawford County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Prairie du Chien

For a typical $161,300 home in Prairie du Chien, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Prairie du Chien's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,486a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $5,646
    Cash to close
    $10,485
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $71

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,456a month

    Down payment
    $8,065
    Cash to close
    $12,904
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $77

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,216a month

    Down payment
    $32,260
    Cash to close
    $37,099
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,365a month

    Down payment
    $24,195
    Cash to close
    $29,034
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Prairie du Chien and for Crawford County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Prairie du Chien

2.04%of the home’s value each year

$3,295 a year for the typical owner in Prairie du Chien.

  • Prairie du Chien 2.04%
  • Crawford 1.56%
  • Wisconsin 1.42%

What Wisconsin publishes Lottery and Gaming Credit for your primary residence (Wisconsin Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Wisconsin

Flood risk in Crawford County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Crawford County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
9.7%
676
Of those, with NFIP insurance
9.6%
County Wisconsin U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 9.7% 1.4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 9.6% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Prairie du Chien

Typical rent in Prairie du Chien is $795 a month: about the same as the county. In Prairie du Chien, 34% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Crawford County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,014 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.50 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Crawford County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $732 $14.08 $29,280
1 bedroom $931 $17.90 $37,240
2 bedrooms $1,014 $19.50 $40,560
3 bedrooms $1,208 $23.23 $48,320
4 bedrooms $1,340 $25.77 $53,600

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Prairie du Chien

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Prairie du Chien is in ZIP code 53821.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,040: $26 more than the fair market rent for Crawford County ($1,014).

  • 53821 $1,040$1,240

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Prairie du Chien when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Prairie du Chien

HUD lists 5 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Prairie du Chien. These are the largest.

  • Rivercrest Villages 1007 E Wisconsin St, Prairie Du Chien 53821 101 low-income homes · For families (608) 836-1152
  • Blackhawk Apts 695 E Blackhawk Ave, Prairie Du Chien 53821 40 homes, 39 low-income · Run by Prairie du Chien Housing Authority · Average payment: $364 a month (608) 326-8323
  • Lawler School Lofts 601 S Beaumont Rd, Prairie Du Chien 53821 40 homes, 32 low-income · 2 bd: 15 · 3 bd: 25 · In service since 2018
  • Prairie Village Apts 1605 E Wells St, Prairie Du Chien 53821 18 low-income homes · 2 bd: 12 · 3 bd: 6 · In service since 1994
  • Terrace Gardens 135 N Steiner Ter, Prairie Du Chien 53821 10 low-income homes · 1 bd: 2 · In service since 1992

See all 10 buildings in Crawford County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Prairie du Chien

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Crawford County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Prairie du Chien

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Prairie du Chien or Crawford County. The ones below are statewide in Wisconsin: they work in Prairie du Chien the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Wisconsin

  • WHEDA Easy Close Advantage DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Wisconsin state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to 6% of the price, over 10 years with a monthly payment and the same rate as the WHEDA first mortgage. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • WHEDA Capital Access DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    $7,500 loan from the Wisconsin state agency for the down payment and closing costs, over 30 years, at 0% and with no monthly payments, alongside a WHEDA mortgage; limited funds, first come, first served. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Prairie du Chien

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Prairie du Chien, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Neighborhood Housing Services of Southwest Wisconsin

    125 E Seminary St, Richland Center · 43 miles away

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 2 more
    (608) 647-4949

  • Couleecap Inc.

    201 Melby St, Westby · 45 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Hmong.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (608) 782-4877

  • Catholic Charities - La Crosse, Inc.

    3710 East Ave S, La Crosse · 51 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (608) 782-0710

All counseling agencies in Wisconsin

Help in Spanish near Prairie du Chien

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Prairie du Chien

HUD’s record names them for Prairie du Chien or Crawford County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

All housing agencies in Wisconsin Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Prairie du Chien, with the typical home value.

Everything about Crawford County Housing in Wisconsin

Neighboring counties

If Crawford County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Prairie du Chien.

All guides
A family roasts marshmallows over a campfire at a forest campsite.

Questions

Housing questions about Prairie du Chien

Short answers with the numbers for Prairie du Chien and all of Crawford County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Prairie du Chien?

The typical home value in Prairie du Chien is $161,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Crawford County it is $183,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Prairie du Chien?

Typical rent in Prairie du Chien is $795 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Crawford County is $1,014.

What is the FHA loan limit in Prairie du Chien?

Prairie du Chien uses the FHA limit for all of Crawford County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Prairie du Chien?

The typical homeowner in Prairie du Chien pays $3,295 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.04% of the home’s value; in Crawford County, the rate is 1.56%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Prairie du Chien?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Crawford County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).