Wausau Receives Two Recognitions

Wednesday, May 27th, 2026 -- 9:00 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) Wausau has been named one of the top 100 communities in America for retirees and renewed its Tree City USA designation for the 45th consecutive year, according to a pair of press releases from the Mayor’s office.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, the retirement ranking comes from Investopedia, which ranked cities based on cost of living, access to health care, and cultural and recreational opportunities.

More than 500 cities were ranked, though the website did not release a 1-100 ranking, only listing the communities by region. Mayor Doug Diny said he was “delighted but not surprised” by the ranking.

“There is [a lot] to love about our city, and that certainly includes the broad array of attributes sought by those entering retirement,” he said. Appleton, Waukesha, La Crosse, and Eau Claire were also named.

The Tree City USA designation comes from the Arbor Day Foundation. Eligible communities uphold four core standards, including maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and participating in an Arbor Day celebration.

“Wausau is proud to have earned Tree City USA recognition for the past 45 years,” said Wausau City Forester John Kahon. “The strong support of our community along with our dedicated crew of professional arborists allows us to keep Wausau green.”

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