HUD FY2026 · ACS 2019–2023 generous below-median

Lower-half FMR gap - Wausau, WI MSA

Displayed gap in Wausau, WI MSA: +18.4% (HUD $1,147 vs ACS $969) · counties in FMR rows: Marathon County .

FMR gap dispatch plate

CBSA 48140 · Wausau, WI -18.4% shortfall

GAP-GENEROUS · FMR-BELOW · SPREAD-PLUS · PHOTO-FINISH · COUNTY-SPARSE · BOOK-FULL

  • GAP-GENEROUS 18.4% surplus
  • FMR-BELOW #111/396 · P28
  • SPREAD-PLUS +$178
  • PHOTO-FINISH Salem
  • COUNTY-SPARSE 1 county
  • BOOK-FULL HUD+ACS pair

Nearest shortfall peer: Salem, OR Metro Area (+0.0pp)

HUD's reference overshoots the ACS median by $178/mo. Lease-up odds are usually better than in shortfall markets, though still compare Salem, OR Metro Area before assuming portability helps.

Instrument codes from this metro’s HUD FMR vs ACS shortfall band, national FMR quartile, dollar spread, gap peer, county footprint, and book completeness, not a moving recommendation.

Shortfall neighbourhood around Wausau, WI

Metros nearest this CBSA on voucher-vs-market shortfall (HUD FMR vs ACS 2-BR median). Full ladder: /gap/.

% shortfall
Source HUD USER FMR + Census ACS median gross rent As of 2026-08-25

How does Wausau, WI compare with nearby FMR areas?

These are the twelve metros closest to Wausau, WI on the displayed voucher-vs-market margin. Their county lists are HUD FMR-area coverage, not a claim that the markets are interchangeable.

  1. Salem, OR Metro Area

    -18.4% shortfall · HUD $1,560 vs ACS $1,318 · $+$242/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Marion County, Polk County.

  2. Sheboygan, WI Metro Area

    -18.4% shortfall · HUD $1,116 vs ACS $943 · $+$173/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Sheboygan County.

  3. Columbus, IN Metro Area

    -18.4% shortfall · HUD $1,415 vs ACS $1,195 · $+$220/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Bartholomew County.

  4. Birmingham, AL Metro Area

    -18.3% shortfall · HUD $1,266 vs ACS $1,070 · $+$196/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Bibb County, Blount County, Jefferson County, Shelby County, St. Clair County.

  5. Watertown-Fort Drum, NY Metro Area

    -18.3% shortfall · HUD $1,405 vs ACS $1,188 · $+$217/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Jefferson County.

  6. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Metro Area

    -18.3% shortfall · HUD $1,839 vs ACS $1,555 · $+$284/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Maricopa County, Pinal County.

  7. Santa Fe, NM Metro Area

    -18.3% shortfall · HUD $1,685 vs ACS $1,425 · $+$260/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Santa Fe County.

  8. Tuscaloosa, AL Metro Area

    -18.5% shortfall · HUD $1,140 vs ACS $962 · $+$178/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Greene County.

  9. Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT Metro Area

    -18.5% shortfall · HUD $1,460 vs ACS $1,232 · $+$228/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Juab County, Utah County.

  10. Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY Metro Area

    -18.2% shortfall · HUD $1,979 vs ACS $1,674 · $+$305/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Dutchess County, Orange County.

  11. Rockford, IL Metro Area

    -18.2% shortfall · HUD $1,175 vs ACS $994 · $+$181/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Boone County, Winnebago County.

  12. Salt Lake City-Murray, UT Metro Area

    -18.2% shortfall · HUD $1,747 vs ACS $1,478 · $+$269/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Salt Lake County.

Source: HUD USER FY2026 Fair Market Rent area records and Census ACS 2019–2023 median gross rent.

WI FMR scale context

These are the closest FY2026 2-BR FMR values in WI; they help place this HUD reference on its state scale, but do not substitute for each metro’s ACS rent comparison.

  1. Oshkosh-Neenah, WI MSA $1,149 (+$2)
  2. Green Bay, WI HUD Metro FMR Area $1,164 (+$17)
  3. La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN HUD Metro FMR Area $1,166 (+$19)
  4. Fond du Lac, WI MSA $1,176 (+$29)
  5. Sheboygan, WI MSA $1,116 (−$31)
  6. Eau Claire, WI MSA $1,181 (+$34)
  7. Columbia County, WI HUD Metro FMR Area $1,195 (+$48)
  8. Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI MSA $1,235 (+$88)
  9. Appleton, WI MSA $1,236 (+$89)
  10. Janesville-Beloit, WI MSA $1,246 (+$99)

High-FMR contrast (scale only)

Ansonia town, CT Exception Area ($1,788 2-BR); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area ($2,246 2-BR); Vineland, NJ MSA ($1,673 2-BR); Fitchburg-Leominster, MA HUD Metro FMR Area ($1,749 2-BR) . Opposite-quartile FMR metros for scale, not gap substitutes for Wausau, WI MSA.

Wausau, WI MSA gap inputs

  • HUD 2-BR FMR (FY2026): $1,147/mo
  • ACS 2019–2023 2-BR median: $969/mo
  • Displayed gap: +18.4%
  • National FMR percentile: 28 (#111/396)

displayed % = (HUD 2-BR − ACS 2-BR median) / ACS median × 100

Issuing PHAs for Wausau, WI MSA

WI HCV agencies (scale-keyed)

Full payment standards for Wausau, WI MSA · Payment standards vs FMR

Source: HUD USER Fair Market Rent FY2026, Census ACS median gross rent. Gap is PlainVoucher-derived. Methodology.

Disclaimer. For informational purposes only, not a substitute for PHA counseling or legal advice. Median gross rent reflects rents paid by current tenants; asking rents for available units typically run higher. Actual PHA payment standards can differ from HUD FMR by ±10%. Always confirm the current payment standard with your PHA. PlainVoucher is not affiliated with HUD or any PHA.

Verify with HUD → · Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Source and method. PlainVoucher compiles public HUD and U.S. Census release data into a searchable reference. Release periods and source boundaries are identified on each data surface; PlainVoucher does not determine eligibility, waitlist status, payment standards, or local PHA rules. Read our editorial standards and corrections policy, methodology, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-25.