Eau Claire, WI Local Data & Statistics

State: WI

Total population: 70,322 Household income: $67,395 Rent: $1,045

Overview

Total population

70,322

Rent

$1,045

Year built

1975

Household income

$67,395

Per capita income

$39,434

Poverty rate

14.3%

Unemployment rate

2.6%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

39.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Wisconsin

Total population

70,322

Adults over 25

43,887

Total households

30,492

Household size

2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$67,395

Per capita income

$39,434

Poverty rate

14.3%

Unemployment rate

2.6%

Rent over 30% of income

39.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,045

Year built

1975

Households that rent

45.6%

Households that own

54.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

86%

Black

1.8%

Asian

5.4%

Two or more races

5.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

2.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

97.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

87.6%

Commute time to work

17 mins

Work from home

12.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

22%

High school graduate or GED

25.5%

Some college or associate degree

15.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

36.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Eau Claire, WI with: Wisconsin United States

Eau Claire, WI

Total population70,322

Rent$1,045

Year built1975

Household income$67,395

Per capita income$39,434

Poverty rate14.3%

Unemployment rate2.6%

Wisconsin State

Total population5,914,872

Rent$1,087

Year built1975

Household income$77,485

Per capita income$43,373

Poverty rate10.6%

Unemployment rate3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityEau Claire, WI	StateWisconsin	CountryUnited States
Total population	70,322	5,914,872	334,922,499
Rent	$1,045	$1,087	$1,413
Year built	1975	1975	1980
Household income	$67,395	$77,485	$80,734
Per capita income	$39,434	$43,373	$44,673
Poverty rate	14.3%	10.6%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.6%	3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Eau Claire, WI, Wisconsin and United States →

Summary for Eau Claire, WI

Eau Claire is located in Wisconsin.

Rent & Income

In Eau Claire, the typical monthly rent is $1,045 and the typical household income is $67,395. Rent here is similar to Wisconsin and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Wisconsin and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 14.3%, which is higher than in both Wisconsin and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 45.6% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. Around 39.9% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 36.7% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 2.6%, which is lower than both Wisconsin and the national rate.

Eau Claire, WI — Rent vs Household Income

Eau Claire, WI — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Eau Claire, WI compares in Wisconsin (12 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,045	7 / 12	from lower rent	$932 – $1,413
Household income	$67,395	7 / 12	from higher income	$54,234 – $83,837
Poverty rate	14.3%	6 / 12	from lower poverty	8.3% – 22.8%
Unemployment rate	2.6%	3 / 12	from lower unemployment	2.2% – 3.9%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Wisconsin with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Eau Claire, WI

Rent

Rent prices put Eau Claire in 7th place among 12 large communities in Wisconsin. Across Wisconsin, rents range from $932 in Green Bay, WI up to $1,413 in Madison, WI.

Household income

Eau Claire ranks 7th among 12 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $54,234 in Milwaukee, WI to $83,837 in Waukesha, WI.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Eau Claire ranks 6th out of 12 large places. Statewide rates vary from 8.3% in Appleton, WI to 22.8% in Milwaukee, WI.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Eau Claire in 3rd place among 12 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 2.2% in Madison, WI to 3.9% in Milwaukee, WI.

💰 Rent in Eau Claire, WI (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,045 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Eau Claire, WI

Annual Household Income: $67,395

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Eau Claire, WI

Estimated Rate: 14.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Eau Claire, WI

In Eau Claire, WI, households that rent: 13,896 (45.6%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	13,896	45.6%
Owner-Occupied	16,596	54.4%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Eau Claire, WI

In Eau Claire, WI, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 5,551 (39.9%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	5,551	39.9%
Other renter households	8,345	60.1%
Total renter households	13,896	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Eau Claire, WI

Less than High School: 9,653 people (22%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 11,192 people (25.5%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 6,916 people (15.8%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 16,126 people (36.7%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 43,887

📊 Unemployment Rate in Eau Claire, WI

Estimated Rate: 2.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

North Richland Hills, TX70,338 Decatur, IL70,368 Camarillo, CA70,244 Eastvale, CA70,179 Bayonne, NJ70,468 Maple Grove, MN70,539 Canton, OH70,105 Dublin, CA70,542 Ankeny, IA70,542 Lafayette, IN70,650

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.