Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Wausau, WI metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Wausau, WI metro area's all-transactions index changed +5.2% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +5.6% for Wisconsin and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 92nd of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +5.2%
- 5-year change
- +55.4%
- Since Q1 1995
- +227%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 92nd
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Wausau, WI vs Wisconsin and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Wausau, WI: 326.7
- Wisconsin: 363.5
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | WI | U.S. | Gap vs WI | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +5.2% | +5.6% | +3.0% | −0.4 pts | +2.2 pts |
| 3 years | +21.0% | +20.9% | +12.9% | +0.1 pts | +8.1 pts |
| 5 years | +55.4% | +54.0% | +41.3% | +1.4 pts | +14.1 pts |
| 10 years | +99.0% | +106% | +93.3% | −6.8 pts | +5.6 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +227% | +264% | +292% | −36.9 pts | −64.9 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Wausau, WI area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 544 · Wausau, WI area | WI | +3.7% | +55.0% | +245% | 34% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Wausau, WI area
Wausau, WI area's index peaked in Q1 2008, fell 12.6% to its low in Q4 2013, and regained its peak in Q4 2017, about 9.8 years after the top. Today it sits +92.1% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q1 2008 | Q4 2013 | -12.6% | Q4 2017 (9.8 yrs) | +92.1% |
| WI | Q1 2008 | Q1 2014 | -11.9% | Q2 2017 (9.2 yrs) | +97.4% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Wausau, WI area's index has changed +47.5% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | WI after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | +1.3% | +1.7% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | +10.2% | +10.1% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | +25.3% | +24.1% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +43.0% | +47.9% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +47.5% | +64.2% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Wausau, WI area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +219% | $957,854 |
| Q2 2000 | +165% | $796,473 |
| Q2 2005 | +106% | $616,999 |
| Q2 2010 | +104% | $610,960 |
| Q2 2015 | +107% | $619,848 |
| Q2 2020 | +69.8% | $509,398 |
| Q2 2021 | +55.4% | $466,213 |
| Q2 2023 | +21.0% | $362,942 |
| Q2 2025 | +5.2% | $315,563 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Wausau, WI area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Wausau, WI metro area shows changes of +5.2% over one year, +55.4% over five years, and +99.0% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +227% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Wausau, WI area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved +2.2 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is +14.1 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.