#11 COLLEGE TOWN
For postsecondary students on a budget, based on rent and other expenses.
#11 COLLEGE TOWN
DISCOVER YOUR PASSION.
We live in one of the best areas of the country for outdoor recreation.
We live in one of the best areas of the country for outdoor recreation.
I had come up to La Crosse to participate in the Coulee Region Duathlon and immediately knew I wanted to move to the area. I was working for Kwik Trip at my hometown store and watched for job postings in the corporate office. The amount of mountain bike trails, running trails, and great roads to ride bikes on was the biggest draw for me. I met my wife while she was going to school at UW-L and she too liked the outdoors and loved the region. Since then we have had one of my good friends, nieces, and in-laws all move to the area for the same reason. We live in one of the best areas of the country for outdoor recreation.
~ Chad & Amy Juel
Employed at Kwik Trip
Moved from Sell Rock, Iowa in 2002
We are enjoying a great work-life balance!
We are enjoying a great work-life balance!
We were both born and raised in La Crosse but settled in Minneapolis to explore a bigger city together as newlyweds. As our family began to grow, we felt a strong pull to come home. La Crosse is the ideal place to raise a family. It’s the perfect little big town with tons of activities, great community support of local businesses, some amazing restaurants, and great education!
Leaving our careers in Minneapolis was a tough choice as we both enjoyed our work there, but we chose to work where we wanted to live rather than live where we work. The decision was the right one for us–we are enjoying a great work-life balance, short commutes, and more family time than ever!
~ Mindy and Matt Durtsche
Chiropractor and employed as COO at Gerhard's Kitchen and Bath Stores
Moved from Minneapolis in 2016
We are proud to call La Crosse our new home.
We are proud to call La Crosse our new home.
We looked broadly throughout the country to relocate for our career opportunities and La Crosse was the community that best fit our needs. We love spending time outdoors—enjoying nature’s beauty with our dogs, hiking, trail running, fishing, playing tennis, skiing, etc.—La Crosse has all of this and so much more to offer. A community small enough to truly feel like home yet large enough to have all of the day-to-day amenities we need, with excellent healthcare and schools, and friendly Midwestern people, we could not ask for more. We are proud to call La Crosse our new home and so thankful to have found this hidden gem nestled in the beautiful Driftless Region.
~ Kale and Bridget Manuel
Employed at Gundersen Health System and Michigan Online School
Moved from Ann Arbor, MI in 2020
People here are very friendly and welcoming.
People here are very friendly and welcoming.
What drew me here was the exciting learning opportunity at Kwik Trip as my first job. Though since coming here I am feeling more and more comfortable every day. It feels like quite literally everyone in La Crosse shares my hobbies and interests. May it be hiking, snowshoeing, or boating on the Mississippi, you always have lots of options to choose from. People here are very friendly and welcoming. Being able to experience all four seasons with proximity to nature and still having a feel of city life makes living in La Crosse a unique experience.
~ Ved Kulkarni
Employed at Kwik Trip
Moved from Philadelphia in 2019
I am happy we took this big step and decided to move here.
I am happy we took this big step and decided to move here.
We moved here a few months ago and so far have loved everything this area has to offer. My husband is happy at the job and I feel people are more accepting here. Our school is great even though it’s virtual but it’s doing everything possible to make my kids adapt. And we love that we are so close to nature and it’s so beautiful here all year round. We have explored a lot of walking trails and the bluffs and amazing geography of this area. Every day constantly feels that we are at a vacation spot–getting that experience daily for such a low cost of living, why would you not want to live here !!!?
~ Dr. Arvind Garg and Dipika Garg
Employed at Mayo Clinic Health System
Moved from Springfield, IL in 2020
Great schools, great views and a great community to call home.
Great schools, great views and a great community to call home.
The Greater La Crosse area is a beautiful place to live, we love looking at the bluffs year round and regardless of the time of year it is not unusual to see people enjoying an array of outdoor activities. The area is large enough to offer a variety of career, entertainment and enrichment opportunities, while still holding onto the benefits of rural connections. We appreciate the great communities within the Greater La Crosse area, each with their own identity and unique characteristics. Great schools, great views and a great community to call home.
~ Adriane & Nate Melby
Employed at Trane Technologies & Dairyland Power Cooperative
We live in one of the best areas of the country for outdoor recreation.
We live in one of the best areas of the country for outdoor recreation.
I had come up to La Crosse to participate in the Coulee Region Duathlon and immediately knew I wanted to move to the area. I was working for Kwik Trip at my hometown store and watched for job postings in the corporate office. The amount of mountain bike trails, running trails, and great roads to ride bikes on was the biggest draw for me. I met my wife while she was going to school at UW-L and she too liked the outdoors and loved the region. Since then we have had one of my good friends, nieces, and in-laws all move to the area for the same reason. We live in one of the best areas of the country for outdoor recreation.
~ Chad & Amy Juel
Employed at Kwik Trip
Moved from Sell Rock, Iowa in 2002
We are enjoying a great work-life balance!
We are enjoying a great work-life balance!
We were both born and raised in La Crosse but settled in Minneapolis to explore a bigger city together as newlyweds. As our family began to grow, we felt a strong pull to come home. La Crosse is the ideal place to raise a family. It’s the perfect little big town with tons of activities, great community support of local businesses, some amazing restaurants, and great education!
Leaving our careers in Minneapolis was a tough choice as we both enjoyed our work there, but we chose to work where we wanted to live rather than live where we work. The decision was the right one for us–we are enjoying a great work-life balance, short commutes, and more family time than ever!
~ Mindy and Matt Durtsche
Chiropractor and employed as COO at Gerhard's Kitchen and Bath Stores
Moved from Minneapolis in 2016
We are proud to call La Crosse our new home.
We are proud to call La Crosse our new home.
We looked broadly throughout the country to relocate for our career opportunities and La Crosse was the community that best fit our needs. We love spending time outdoors—enjoying nature’s beauty with our dogs, hiking, trail running, fishing, playing tennis, skiing, etc.—La Crosse has all of this and so much more to offer. A community small enough to truly feel like home yet large enough to have all of the day-to-day amenities we need, with excellent healthcare and schools, and friendly Midwestern people, we could not ask for more. We are proud to call La Crosse our new home and so thankful to have found this hidden gem nestled in the beautiful Driftless Region.
~ Kale and Bridget Manuel
Employed at Gundersen Health System and Michigan Online School
Moved from Ann Arbor, MI in 2020
People here are very friendly and welcoming.
People here are very friendly and welcoming.
What drew me here was the exciting learning opportunity at Kwik Trip as my first job. Though since coming here I am feeling more and more comfortable every day. It feels like quite literally everyone in La Crosse shares my hobbies and interests. May it be hiking, snowshoeing, or boating on the Mississippi, you always have lots of options to choose from. People here are very friendly and welcoming. Being able to experience all four seasons with proximity to nature and still having a feel of city life makes living in La Crosse a unique experience.
~ Ved Kulkarni
Employed at Kwik Trip
Moved from Philadelphia in 2019
I am happy we took this big step and decided to move here.
I am happy we took this big step and decided to move here.
We moved here a few months ago and so far have loved everything this area has to offer. My husband is happy at the job and I feel people are more accepting here. Our school is great even though it’s virtual but it’s doing everything possible to make my kids adapt. And we love that we are so close to nature and it’s so beautiful here all year round. We have explored a lot of walking trails and the bluffs and amazing geography of this area. Every day constantly feels that we are at a vacation spot–getting that experience daily for such a low cost of living, why would you not want to live here !!!?
~ Dr. Arvind Garg and Dipika Garg
Employed at Mayo Clinic Health System
Moved from Springfield, IL in 2020
Great schools, great views and a great community to call home.
Great schools, great views and a great community to call home.
The Greater La Crosse area is a beautiful place to live, we love looking at the bluffs year round and regardless of the time of year it is not unusual to see people enjoying an array of outdoor activities. The area is large enough to offer a variety of career, entertainment and enrichment opportunities, while still holding onto the benefits of rural connections. We appreciate the great communities within the Greater La Crosse area, each with their own identity and unique characteristics. Great schools, great views and a great community to call home.
~ Adriane & Nate Melby
Employed at Trane Technologies & Dairyland Power Cooperative
Health
A hub for world-class health care.
Gundersen Health System and Mayo Clinic Health System deliver exceptional health care services in locations in La Crosse and the surrounding communities.
Business
A better place for business.
The La Crosse area has a long, storied history of entrepreneurship and boasts a business environment to prove it. In 2019, Forbes named La Crosse #50 in the United States for the Best Small Place for Business and Careers. From large, well-known brands like Kwik Trip, to trusted companies like Kaplan Professional, to industrial suppliers like Chart Energy & Chemicals and First Supply, La Crosse businesses have made their mark. Those who wish to start a new business will also find a network of organizations to support their endeavors.
Connect
Connectivity
The way we work is changing, and we welcome remote workers with open arms. In 2021, Ownerly ranked the La Crosse area 13th in the United States for the Best Cities for Remote Workers. We’re proud that over 80% of La Crosse County has internet speeds of over 25 Mbps. Imagine closing your laptop at the end of your workday and being only five minutes away from an outdoor recreation opportunity to refresh your mind and spirit.
Explore
Home to explorers and adventurers.
With rivers, bluffs, forests, lakes, and trails, the La Crosse area is the perfect place for any nature lover, outdoor enthusiast, or sportsman to call home. See how the locals make every day an adventure at explorelacrosse.com.
Low Cost
Low cost of living.
Enjoy many amenities of big-city life, coupled with a small-town feel… without the empty pocketbook. Livability.com named La Crosse one of the Best Affordable Places to Live in 2018.
Lifestyle
The lifestyle you want without the hassle.
The La Crosse area—and historic downtown La Crosse—offer countless opportunities for shopping, dining, nightlife, live music, festivals, and more. Find your new favorite shop or restaurant, or plan for an upcoming event at LaCrosseDowntown.com.
River Town
What a river town really means.
With more bars per capita than almost anywhere and an upbeat local music scene, it’s no surprise that Business Insider named La Crosse the #2 Most Exciting Small City in America. With a young population and access to a bustling nightlife scene, this is no sleepy river town.
Health
Business
Connect
Explore
Low Cost
Lifestyle
River Town
