Wausau, WI Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Wausau, WI: What You Need to Know

Wausau City is the seat of Marathon County in central Wisconsin, and home to a significant Hmong population. Don’t confuse the city with an adjacent town with the same name. 

Things to Do in Wausau

The Granite Peak Ski Area offers world-class winter adventure on 68 trails and four terrain parks across 200 acres of land. It’s popular for downhill skiing. For a family-friendly activity, head over to the Tubing Hill at Sylvan Hill Park. The 1,200-foot hill has snowmaking equipment, tow ropes, and a chalet with a snack bar. Take in some culture at the Center for the Visual Arts and the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. The center exhibits works of local and regional artists in all artistic media. The museum’s annual Birds in Art exhibition celebrates historic and contemporary paintings, sculptures, and other works focusing on birds. 

Cost of Living

You’ll save in household expenses in Wausau, but you should know that Wisconsin taxes are considered high. Wausau’s cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 7.1%, 17%, and 30.3% lower than the national average respectively. The median gross rent in the city is $708. The Badger State collects 3.86% to 7.65% in income tax and 5% to 5.6% in sales tax.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Wausau lies on the Wisconsin River, which divides the city into east and west. Downtown residents love the riverfront, farmers market, Wausau Center Mall, and the convenience of being just a few steps away from great restaurants and shops and year-round events. Looking for top-notch schools? Wausau has them, but if you prefer the suburbs, look into Weston and Maine, both less than 10 miles away. The Town of Wausau is a bedroom community popular among commuters.

Local Population

Wausau has a population of 38,561, out of which 11.7% are Asians. Hmong Americans make up the largest ethnic minority in the city where the nonprofit Hmong American Center is based. The Hmong people in the U.S. are mostly political refugees who fled their country because of war and persecution. There are 49,240 of them living in Wisconsin. Many chose the state for its educational and agricultural opportunities. 

Weather and Climate

Wausau enjoys four distinct seasons. It receives about 56 inches of snow annually, a lot more than the national average of 28 inches. Although residents are used to snow, they were surprised by a snowstorm on April 3, 2018. The spring blizzard dumped 9.3 inches, a daily record.