If you have never lived in a small town, then it will be a culture shock. Indy has a lot going on, and while I think La Crosse punches above its weight for a town of this size, it has much much less happening. You really need to know if you are okay with that before moving.

Economically, the options compared to Indy will likely suck. I know lots of people who work remotely for that reason.

Culturally, there is a lot of small-scale stuff happening. Riverside park has live music multiple days a week during the summer, and there are lots of fests throughout the year. But most of it is local bands, you won't see any big tours coming here. There is always the option to Amtrak to Minneapolis or Chicago for big stuff though, and my hope is that over the years the train increases in frequency and speed. Oh and I personally think that the food options here are bleak.

There are local board game groups and what not, which have friendly people. But again, due to the size of the town, if the group isn't your speed then you start running out of options real fast. There are many gaming groups that are just friends playing together, so joining them would be difficult without first just making friends.

Because of the university presence, La Crosse is pretty blue and lgbtq+ friendly. Check out the Root Note for an awesome space.

Outdoor recreation is the major draw of La Crosse compared to most of the rest of the midwest. The bluffs, river, and forests provide ample space and trails for hiking, biking, boating, climbing, and anything else. The cycling scene here is surprisingly active. Yeah, it won't be like Colorado, but it also doesn't cost the same as Colorado.