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Hamilton vs Red Cedar

75 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (8.9× in Red Cedar) and growth since 2010 (+13.4 pts in Red Cedar).

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Hamilton, WIOne of the healthiest townsLa Crosse County · 2,668 people

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Red Cedar, WIOne of the healthiest townsDunn County · 2,042 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

HamiltonOne of the healthiest towns

HealthHealthier than 76%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Hamilton →

Red CedarOne of the healthiest towns

HealthHealthier than 63%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Red Cedar →

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Red Cedar has more miles of trail

Red Cedar 39.3 miHamilton 4.4 mi

Growth since 2010+13.4 pts

Red Cedar has grown faster since 2010

Red Cedar +13.1%Hamilton -0.3%

Street grid+82%

Red Cedar has the more walkable street grid

Red Cedar 4.0Hamilton 2.2

Home values+23%

Homes cost more in Hamilton

Hamilton $368,800Red Cedar $300,000

Property tax bill+28%

Tax bills are bigger in Hamilton

Hamilton $4,604Red Cedar $3,599

Seasonal homes+8.8 pts

Hamilton has more second homes

Hamilton 9.4%Red Cedar 0.6%

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $440 more a month in Hamilton

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Hamilton$2,320/mo

Typical home $369K (Census) · tax rate 1.25% · or rent about $1,207/mo · Housing →

Red Cedar$1,870/mo

Typical home $300K (Census) · tax rate 1.20% · or rent about $1,365/mo · Housing →

The difference: $440 a month, about $5,300 a year, between Hamilton and Red Cedar.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Wisconsin ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

–HamiltonNot graded B−Red CedarBetter than 45% of districts in the state

Health

A−HamiltonHealthier than 76% of U.S. towns BRed CedarHealthier than 63% of U.S. towns

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

HamiltonRed Cedar

Snow a year43″41″

January low—5°F

July high—82°F

Growing season (days)—143d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)23rd 40th

Outdoors & history

HamiltonRed Cedar

Trails4 mi 39 mi

Conserved land1.7%7.1%

Archive photos5 —

Community

HamiltonRed Cedar

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

75 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

HamiltonLa Crosse County Red CedarDunn County

Hamilton ↔ Red Cedar75 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Wisconsin average

HamiltonRed Cedar

People

Population 2,668Highest 2,042Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -0.3%Lowest WI: +3.6% +13.1%Highest WI: +3.6%

Median age 42.6±3.8Highest 6% above WI 41.6±4.3Lowest 3% above WI

Hamilton and Red Cedar are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 25.1%±4.1Highest WI: 21.4% 22.6%±3.8Lowest WI: 21.4%

Hamilton and Red Cedar are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 17.8%±4.1Highest WI: 18.5% 16.6%±1.7Lowest WI: 18.5%

Hamilton and Red Cedar are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 37.6%Highest WI: 33.4% 37.1%Lowest WI: 33.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.9%±2.3Highest WI: 5.8% 2.6%±1.7Lowest WI: 5.8%

Hamilton and Red Cedar are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $112,500±$7kHighest 45% above WI $100,000±$17kLowest 29% above WI

Hamilton and Red Cedar are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $368,800±$24kHighest 38% above WI $300,000±$26kLowest 13% above WI

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,207±$155Lowest 11% above WI $1,365±$131Highest 26% above WI

Red Cedar and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $4,604Highest 21% above WI $3,599Lowest 5% below WI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 6.5%±25.5Lowest WI: 43.7% 57.1%±42.3Highest WI: 43.7%

Red Cedar and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 2.4%Lowest WI: 10.6% 7.2%Highest WI: 10.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 90.8%Lowest WI: 67.8% 92.9%Highest WI: 67.8%

Typical home builtmedian year 1991Lowest 16 yrs newer than WI 1993Highest 18 yrs newer than WI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 21 minLowest 4% below WI 23 minHighest 5% above WI

Work from home 10.3%±3.1Lowest WI: 13.1% 12.1%±5Highest WI: 13.1%

Red Cedar and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 0.7%Highest 0.3%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.8 miLowest 17.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.18Lowest 0.22Highest

Top workplaceoutside town La Crosse (37%)Menomonie (29%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Red CedarFew work in Hamilton

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 1.7%Lowest 7.1%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 4.4 miLowest 39.3 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 1.0 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 5Highest 4Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.2Lowest 4.0Highest

Wisconsin average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Hamilton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Hamilton’s Town Square.

Red Cedar neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Red Cedar’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Hamilton and Red Cedar

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Hamilton

Farmington1,902 people · $243K homes

Onalaska19,348 people · $289K homes

Onalaska5,798 people · $320K homes

Barre1,363 people · $384K homes

Towns like Hamilton

Stettin2,572 people · $370K homes

Pittsfield2,772 people · $308K homes

Lafayette1,843 people · $409K homes

Union2,624 people · $307K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.