What stands out worked out from the figures below

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Onalaska has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Holmen has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18.4%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing townOutdoorsyWalkable streets

Measure	Onalaska	Holmen
People
Population	19,348Highest	11,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest WI: +3.6%	+18.4%Highest WI: +3.6%
Median age	40.7±2Highest about the WI average	37.6±2.3Lowest 6% below WI
	Onalaska and Holmen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±2.6Lowest WI: 21.4%	26.3%±3.7Highest WI: 21.4%
Age 65+	20.4%±2.6Highest WI: 18.5%	13.7%±2.5Lowest WI: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Highest WI: 33.4%	33.3%Lowest WI: 33.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.2Lowest WI: 5.8%	5.3%±2.4Highest WI: 5.8%
	Holmen and Onalaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,867±$5kHighest 11% above WI	$79,899±$10kLowest 3% above WI
	Onalaska and Holmen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,900±$16kHighest 8% above WI	$285,900±$20kLowest 7% above WI
	Onalaska and Holmen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,130±$104Lowest 4% above WI	$1,175±$54Highest 8% above WI
	Holmen and Onalaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,326Lowest 14% above WI	$4,398Highest 16% above WI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.6%±9.3Lowest WI: 43.7%	47.5%±15.2Highest WI: 43.7%
	Holmen and Onalaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6% WI: 10.6%	6% WI: 10.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.1%Highest WI: 67.8%	61.6%Lowest WI: 67.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Lowest 16 yrs newer than WI	1999Highest 24 yrs newer than WI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 22% below WI	24 minHighest 6% above WI
Work from home	10.9%±2.7Lowest WI: 13.1%	12.7%±4.2Highest WI: 13.1%
	Holmen and Onalaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#130 of 262 in WI	#163 of 262 in WI
School district	Onalaska School District	Holmen School District
High school in town	Onalaska High	Holmen High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

WI average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.