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City · 39,996 residents · Marathon County, Wisconsin

Wausau , Wisconsin

In Wausau, a typical home is worth $167,900 and typical rent is $1,010 a month. Compared with all of Marathon County, the typical home value is 24% lower, typical household income is 17% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 16 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $167,900

    24% below the county

    37% below Wisconsin

    • Wausau
    • Marathon
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical rent

    $1,010a month

    About the same as the county

    7% below Wisconsin

    • Wausau
    • Marathon
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical household income

    $64,389a year

    17% below the county

    17% below Wisconsin

    • Wausau
    • Marathon
    • Wisconsin

  • Households that own their home

    58%

    16 points below the county

    10 points below Wisconsin

    • Wausau
    • Marathon
    • Wisconsin

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$247,839
8.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$954 a month
5.6% more than 12 months ago

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

Wausau is in Marathon 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 Marathon County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Wausau apart

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

  1. 58% of households in Wausau own their home, against 73% in Marathon County.

  2. Nearby, in Merrill, the typical home value is $123,800: 26% less than in Wausau ($167,900).

  3. Nearby, in Merrill, the typical rent is $771: 24% less than in Wausau ($1,010).

  4. The typical home in Wausau is worth $167,900, 24% less than in Marathon County as a whole ($219,600).

  5. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Wausau rose 8.3%; in Wisconsin, it rose 5.1%.

  6. The typical household income in Wausau is $64,389, 17% less than in Marathon County as a whole ($77,884).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Wausau

What homes there are in Wausau, 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

In Wausau, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Marathon County, 8.

Year built

In Wausau, half of the homes were built before 1963; in Marathon County, before 1978.

There are fewer big homes in Wausau than in Marathon County: 54% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 67%.

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

By price, most homes in Wausau sit under the FHA limit for Marathon County ($541,287): about 97%.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Wausau cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,217): about 68%.

With a mortgage

$1,250 a month

Marathon County: $1,463 a month

Without a mortgage

$587 a month

Marathon County: $589 a month

Owners with a mortgage

61%

Marathon County: 59%

Owning costs less in Wausau: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,250 a month; in Marathon County, $1,463. Without one, $587.

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 Wausau rose 38% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Marathon County (41%).

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Wausau rose 43%, more than in Marathon County (32%).

To compare: typical income in Wausau rose 38%; the home, +38%; the rent, +43%.

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

MeasureWausauMarathon CountyWisconsinUnited States
Rental vacancy 6.9%4.9%4.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.2%0.5%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.3%1.3%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.222.362.332.53
Drive alone 72%76%74%69%
Carpool 8%8%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 3%2%3%3%
Work from home 14%13%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

There is more rental housing open in Wausau: 6.9% is empty and offered for rent, against 4.9% in Marathon County.

In Wausau, 1.3% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Marathon County.

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.22 on average, against 2.36 in Marathon County.

In Wausau, 72% of workers drive alone to work; in Marathon County, 76%.

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 Wausau?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Wausau, worth $167,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 28% of the typical household income in Wausau, which is $64,389 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $65,198 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Wausau. 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 $5,877 (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

$1,521

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$164,858
Total interest
$237,193
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,835 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,502 a month

  • Tight

    $1,502 to $1,932 a month

    Your payment · 28%

  • Hard

    more than $1,932 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Wausau ($64,389 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,521
Principal & interest$1,117
Property tax$260
Home insurance$70
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$74

You need at least $5,877 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

Wausau and Marathon County

Wausau is in Marathon 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).

Wausau's own numbers

Typical home value
$167,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,010
Typical yearly household income
$64,389
Households that own their home
58%
Effective property tax rate
1.86%

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

Numbers for all of Marathon County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,217
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+57%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.7%

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 Marathon County.

Everything about Marathon County

Buying

Buying a home in Wausau

A typical home in Wausau is worth $167,900: 24% below the county and 37% below Wisconsin. With the typical household income in Wausau ($64,389 a year), a typical home costs 2.6 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.

  • Wausau 2.6 years
  • Marathon 2.8 years
  • Wisconsin 3.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Marathon County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Marathon County rose 90% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Wisconsin U.S.
Last year (2025) +7.7% +5.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +57% +57% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +90% +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

Wausau next to Marathon 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
  • Wausau $167,900
  • Marathon $219,600
  • Wisconsin $266,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Wausau $1,010
  • Marathon $999
  • Wisconsin $1,087
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Wausau $64,389
  • Marathon $77,884
  • Wisconsin $77,485
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Wausau next to Marathon County and Wisconsin
Measure Wausau Marathon County Wisconsin U.S.
Typical home value $167,900 $219,600 $266,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,010 $999 $1,087 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $64,389 $77,884 $77,485 $80,734
Households that own their home 58% 73% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,127 $3,218 $3,792 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.86% 1.47% 1.42% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 47% 42% 44% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Marathon 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 Wausau

For a typical $167,900 home in Wausau, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Wausau's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,521a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $5,877
    Cash to close
    $10,914
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $74

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,490a month

    Down payment
    $8,395
    Cash to close
    $13,432
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $80

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,240a month

    Down payment
    $33,580
    Cash to close
    $38,617
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,395a month

    Down payment
    $25,185
    Cash to close
    $30,222
    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 Wausau and for Marathon County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Wausau

1.86%of the home’s value each year

$3,127 a year for the typical owner in Wausau.

  • Wausau 1.86%
  • Marathon 1.47%
  • 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 Marathon County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.7%
750
Of those, with NFIP insurance
19%
County Wisconsin U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.7% 1.4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 19% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Wausau

Typical rent in Wausau is $1,010 a month: about the same as the county. In Wausau, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Marathon County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,217 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.40 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Marathon 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 $847 $16.29 $33,880
1 bedroom $940 $18.08 $37,600
2 bedrooms $1,217 $23.40 $48,680
3 bedrooms $1,590 $30.58 $63,600
4 bedrooms $1,599 $30.75 $63,960

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 Wausau

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Wausau has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,220 in 54403 to $1,240 in 54401.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Marathon County ($1,217).

  • 54401 $1,240$1,620
  • 54403 $1,220$1,590

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Wausau 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 Wausau

HUD lists 15 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Wausau. These are the largest.

  • Kannenberg Plaza 1240 Merrill Ave, Wausau 54401 106 homes, 105 low-income · 1 bd: 106 · In service since 2010 · For older adults (715) 845-4144
  • Sturgeon Bluff Apts 1320 Grand Ave, Wausau 54403 105 homes, 104 low-income · 1 bd: 98 · 2 bd: 7 · In service since 2005 · For older adults (715) 848-5091
  • Impact Housing 920 W Campus Dr, Wausau 54401 103 low-income homes · For people with disabilities (800) 685-9353
  • Diamond View 1300 N 9th Ave, Wausau 54401 100 homes, 99 low-income · For families (715) 675-7979
  • Terrace Heights Apartments 1321 Townline Rd, Wausau 54403 50 low-income homes · For families (715) 355-1016

See all 35 buildings in Marathon County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Wausau

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 Marathon County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Wausau

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Wausau or Marathon County. The ones below are statewide in Wisconsin: they work in Wausau 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 Wausau

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

  • Wisconsin Native Loan Fund

    14284 State Highway 70 W, Lac Du Flambeau · 67 miles away

    • Workshops for new owners
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (715) 588-1600

  • First Nations Community Financial

    206 S Roosevelt Rd Ste 123, Black River Falls · 75 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 3 more
    (715) 284-2470

  • Catholic Charities Diocese of Green Bay

    1825 Riverside Dr, Green Bay · 86 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (920) 272-8234

All counseling agencies in Wisconsin

Help in Spanish near Wausau

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves 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 Wausau

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

  • Wausau Community Development Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (715) 261-6676

All housing agencies in Wisconsin Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Marathon County

These cities are also in Marathon County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Marathon County Housing in Wisconsin

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Wausau, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Marathon 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 Wausau.

All guides
Two parents walk hand in hand with their little daughter.

Questions

Housing questions about Wausau

Short answers with the numbers for Wausau and all of Marathon 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 Wausau?

The typical home value in Wausau is $167,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Marathon County it is $219,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Wausau?

Typical rent in Wausau is $1,010 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Marathon County is $1,217.

What is the FHA loan limit in Wausau?

Wausau uses the FHA limit for all of Marathon 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 Wausau?

The typical homeowner in Wausau pays $3,127 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.86% of the home’s value; in Marathon County, the rate is 1.47%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Wausau?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Marathon 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).