Janesville, WI vs Wausau, WI

Wausau is moderately more affordable than Janesville, with a 10% lower cost of living index. Janesville scores 81 compared to 73 for Wausau, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Janesville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Janesville is $1,037/month compared to $950/month in Wausau — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Wausau is more affordable at $155,900 median vs $209,700.

Median household income in Janesville is $71,664 compared to $61,877 in Wausau (+15.8%). While Janesville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Janesville spend roughly 17.4% of their income on rent, less than the 18.4% in Wausau.