Wausau ( WAH-sah or Wə-sə) is a city in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the Wisconsin River in central Wisconsin and had a population of 39,994 at the 2020 census. The Wausau metropolitan statistical area, consisting solely of Marathon County, had a population of 138,013. The Wausau area was inhabited by various indigenous peoples, including the Ojibwe. It was settled by European immigrants in the mid-19th century and developed as a lumbering center due to its access to pine forests and river transport. Cultural and recreational attractions in Wausau include the Grand Theater, Granite Peak Ski Area, Rib Mountain State Park, Leigh Yawkey Woods…

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Wausau ranks

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#12Shortest commute in WI #30Closest to a top hospital in WI #32Most affordable in WI All WI rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code54401, 54402, 54403

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Wausau

Housing in Wausau

$262K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $262,000 in May 2026.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market43

Sale-to-list101%

Sold in May37

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Wausau

C⁺

Safety Grade C+

Wausau reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 58% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Wausau 2.6

Wisconsin 2.4

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Wausau 7.4

Wisconsin 10.3

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Wausau

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40% of Wausau’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Weston (8%), Schofield (5%) and Rib Mountain (3%). Half commute less than 5 miles.

Weston

Schofield

Rib Mountain

Rothschild

40%Work in townlive and work in Wausau 5 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 29,558Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Wausau →

Health in Wausau

B⁻

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 51% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 71% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Wisconsin

3worse than WI

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 29 are too close to call.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs 2▼ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

14.3%More adults facing food insecurityWI 12.1% · worse 7.7%More adults without reliable transportationWI 6.7% · worse 83.9%Fewer adults getting cholesterol checkedWI 85.9% · worse

Care nearby

Aspirus Wausau HospitalWausau · 1.2 mi · ER

Bridge Community Health Clinic - Behavioral Health Grand AvenueWausau · 0.9 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · part of Wausau

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Wausau · CMS · HRSAHealth in Wausau →

Natural hazards in Wausau

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 30% of U.S. communities.

🥶 Cold waves🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

8Does Wausau flood?paid flood claims since 1979 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Wausau MapWausau vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Wausau →

Climate in Wausau

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Wausau has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to 6°, and about 63 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

26° / 9°Winter

53° / 31°Spring

78° / 55°Summer

55° / 36°Fall

How much snow does Wausau get?About 63 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 4, with the last in spring around May 6.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.7° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Wausau →

Schools in Wausau

All Wausau schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Wausau’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 59% of Wisconsin’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Wausau’s schools compare in WI →

DistrictWausau School DistrictSchools20

G D Jones Elementary C-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 492 students Riverview Elementary BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 445 students Thomas Jefferson Elementary BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 372 students Stettin Elementary B+Elementary · Grades K–5 · 327 students John Marshall Elementary CElementary · Grades K–5 · 231 students Hawthorn Hills Elementary C-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 227 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within WI. Ratings are from neighbors.