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Living in
Eau Claire.
About
Life in Eau Claire
If you're considering moving to Eau Claire, expect a genuine Midwestern city that's neither pretentious nor boring—it's got real character without trying too hard. The job market is solid with a 2.9% unemployment rate and a median household income around $67,000, helped by stable employers like Menards and manufacturing sectors. Housing is genuinely affordable compared to larger metros, with median home values near $248,000 and rent averaging $1,045/month, though the rental market is tight.
Eau Claire at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.3%
Foreign-Born
3.8%
Broadband Internet
91.0%
of households
Population Growth
+4.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Eau Claire: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Eau Claire, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (11.2%), and 2.5% of residents speak Other Asian/Pacific at home.
Under 18
17.7%
of residents
65 and Older
16.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.1%
of households
Married Couples
39.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.18
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for WI
Rent, home values, and income in Eau Claire
In Eau Claire, home values are 7% below the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,553
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $317,833 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Eau Claire
Unemployment in Eau Claire is close to the WI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Eau Claire Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.7 min avg
How Eau Claire residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Eau Claire, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU)
Regional airport · few flights26k passengers boarded in 2025
- 84 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Eau Claire runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
168.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,791.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Eau Claire Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
78.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Eau Claire County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Eau Claire County, which includes Eau Claire, the most common type is winter storm, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 10 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 7 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2022 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $14,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Winter Storm | $50,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Winter Storm | $100,000 |
| 2018 | 8 | Winter Storm | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Eau Claire County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Eau Claire County, which includes Eau Claire, is typically good — 269 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
269
per year
Moderate Days
85
per year
Unhealthy Days
5
per year
Eau Claire County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 11°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Eau Claire has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 11°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
57°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
28°/11°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
32.8"
Annual Snowfall
54.0"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
148
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25°F | 8°F | 1.10" |
| Feb | 29°F | 12°F | 1.14" |
| Mar | 42°F | 24°F | 1.93" |
| Apr | 56°F | 36°F | 3.27" |
| May | 69°F | 49°F | 4.12" |
| Jun | 78°F | 58°F | 4.53" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 3.68" |
| Aug | 80°F | 61°F | 3.84" |
| Sep | 72°F | 52°F | 3.53" |
| Oct | 58°F | 40°F | 2.48" |
| Nov | 42°F | 27°F | 1.78" |
| Dec | 30°F | 15°F | 1.35" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Eau Claire
Eau Claire has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
5.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Mayo Clinic Health System Eau Claire Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Marshfield Medical Center - Eau Claire
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Oakleaf Surgical Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 2.1 mi away · Altoona
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Eau Claire
Eau Claire's student/teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 36.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
24
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
36.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Public · 4-year · 8,895 students · in-state tuition $10,207 · 67% graduate · median earnings $62,438 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, 74 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Eau Claire
Eau Claire has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (74 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
74 mi awayMississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
79 mi awayPublic Libraries in Eau Claire
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
400 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire
Cities Near Eau Claire
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Eau Claire?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Eau Claire FAQ
Is Eau Claire, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Eau Claire's median rent is $1,045/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $67,395/year. Median home value is $247,600.
Is Eau Claire, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Eau Claire's violent crime rate was 168 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1792 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Eau Claire, Wisconsin?⌄
Eau Claire has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Eau Claire is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,045/month and median household income is $67,395/year. The median home value is $247,600. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Eau Claire, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Eau Claire is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from