Downtown LaCrosse (La Crosse, Onalaska, Salem: best city, apartment, rentals)

[RogueMom]

I'm looking at LaCrosse for possibly buying a property and sending my 21 year old daughter up there to school in the near future. Are the homes in the downtown area "sketchy"? Here in our small town in North Carolina, the homes in our small downtown are charming, really cheap, and in crime ridden neighborhoods unfortunately.

I wondered if the same held true there. Anything looks good on internet realtor sites - locals who live there can tell the true story.

I appreciate your feedback.

[erasure]

Originally Posted by montanamom

I'm looking at LaCrosse for possibly buying a property and sending my 21 year old daughter up there to school in the near future. Are the homes in the downtown area "sketchy"? Here in our small town in North Carolina, the homes in our small downtown are charming, really cheap, and in crime ridden neighborhoods unfortunately.

I wondered if the same held true there. Anything looks good on internet realtor sites - locals who live there can tell the true story.

I appreciate your feedback.

Downtown La Crosse? Probably one of the safest places in US.
A lot of bars in *downtown-downtown* area (3rd-4th-5th streets,) that still keeps cozy charm of small European town of the 19th century, a lot of drunk students, (and non-students alike, particularly around Octoberfest and Packer's games,) but very safe overall. Even Salvation Army with homeless shelter that is located downtown is not a problem. I sometimes go for my evening walks as late as 11 pm and still feel safe.
I don't know where exactly are you planning to buy a house, but couple of my friends that were looking to buy one, have run into the same problem. A lot of houses in La Crosse are old and they don't pass inspection. By the time all flaws are fixed, the final price becomes so much higher, that it doesn't make sense to buy the house. ( They were not looking for a house downtown though.)
Bottom line for you ( parent) to know; two Universities and college are located close to downtown; ( or you can consider it downtown); plenty of students live around that area.

[jonbarten]

I went to UW La Crosse from 2004-2008. Overall, the campus area is pretty safe. Downtown is, well, downtown. Some of the places close to downtown are loud/noise aka house parties and what not. The area around the UW La Crosse campus is very nice. I had an apartment in the 1700 block of State street right across the street from campus. It's a very nice area. Rentals as well as people's homes so pretty quiet and safe. La Crosse I feel is overall safe especially around the campuses.

[Stone1]

If your child will be going to UWL, it is safer in the college area compared to the downtown area. The area south of downtown, south of Cass St. can tend to have the higher drug related problems compared to the college area with the drinking. As another person mentioned, some of the housing is in poor shape and I would not want my kid living in many of them. Generally speaking, if you stay on the east side of West Ave./Hwy 35, the housing is a little nicer.

[drawk04]

lacrosse is fairly large, and their downtown totally rocks, for real, it is happening, but you still get that small town feeling with not only downtown, but the entire town. thats just my observation, not a bad town at all though.

[Oshow]

Personally, if I were sending my daughter to La Crosse, I'd check into living in Onalaska, Holmen, or even West Salem. Around downtown, there are a lot of college kids that go to UWL and WTC. If you really want to live in La Crosse, look into living on the south side. Much better than the north side or around downtown.

[greggerz]

Downtown La Crosse is extremely safe. I lived in the city for 8 years. It's the best city in the entire state. Certainly the prettiest and freindllest. I would have NO problem if my daughter was residing there.

[Wisedupmom]

I appreciate this feedback. I was Montanamom, but have a new name because it was time for a change. I moved out of Montana over three years ago.

We are in North Carolina now, but I am seriously still looking at Wisconsin, and my daughter will be ready to go there for school, if that is what we decide on, next fall.

Again, I truly appreciate the feedback.

[MSPLove]

Montana to Wised Up... I love it.

[Spngworthy]

take a look at Luther college located in a small college about a hour from lacrosse in decorah ia. One of the best kept secrets around. Smaller than lacrosse but very culturally diverse.