NAICS 72

Accommodation and Food Services in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI

Metro Market Score 24.4 (Favorable), ranked #3 of 298 metros. 435 establishments, 7,490 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 24.4
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national accommodation and food services average.

📈Rapid Growth✓Favorable Market

Employment in La Crosse-Onalaska's accommodation and food services sector grew faster than most metros last year, pushing its growth trend index to 97.7. Combined with a 24.4 market score, this metro sits in the top 10% for overall conditions.

Industry Concentration
41.3
LQ: 0.99
Rank #123 of 298 metros
Wage Competitiveness
3.7
$19,766 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 97.7
Employment growth index
Rank #8 of 298 metros
Wage Pressure
62.1
YoY wage change index

435 Accommodation and Food Services Firms in La Crosse-Onalaska

435
Establishments
+21.8% YoY
7,490
Total Employment
+12.1% YoY
$19,766
Average Annual Wage
+0.8% YoY
0.99
Location Quotient
Below national avg

La Crosse-Onalaska vs Wisconsin Statewide

How this metro's accommodation and food services market compares to Wisconsin overall. The state ranks #5/51 for entry risk.

Measure La Crosse-Onalaska WI Statewide
Overall Score 24.4 Favorable 28.2 Low
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #3 of 298 metros #5 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in La Crosse-Onalaska

Construction 24.1 Retail Trade 34.8 Other Services 35.7 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 39.6 Information 43.1

Accommodation and Food Services in Other Wisconsin Metros

Wausau 16.5 #1/298 Oshkosh-Neenah 22.7 #2/298 Fond du Lac 26.7 #8/298 Sheboygan 26.8 #9/298 Eau Claire 27.7 #10/298 Racine-Mount Pleasant 31.7 #17/298 Appleton 32.0 #19/298 Janesville-Beloit 34.6 #29/298 Milwaukee-Waukesha 37.3 #39/298 Madison 40.3 #50/298

+ 1 more metros. View all in Wisconsin →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For La Crosse-Onalaska's accommodation and food services sector, the wage pressure component (62.1) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.