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METRO AREA

Eau Claire Metro

Eau Claire, WI · 2 counties · 176,647 residents (2025 est.) · 1,646 sq mi
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The short version

Eau Claire is a metro area of 173,915 people. Few US metro areas rank higher on income. 3% of residents were born outside the United States. The typical home is worth $259,809, having more than doubled since 2000. Getting to work takes 20 minutes on average. Growth has run 17% since 2000, or 25,578 more people.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.3
US median: 38.9
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 53%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
173,915
+17%since 2000
from 148,337 in 2000
176,647 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
106 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 90 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.3
+11%since 2000
from 34.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
1,646 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
134K145K156K167K178K19902000201020202024Eau Claire
2024174K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.1%(8,947)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.5%(9,537)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146%(10,477)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.2%(12,532)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 249%(15,608)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.7%(22,012)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.9%(22,368)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411%(19,182)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.6%(21,886)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.7%(18,617)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.1%(8,921)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(3,828)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$74,597
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,359 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,975
+117%since 2000
from $18,875 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.7%
+23.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.430
−1%since 2010
from 0.432 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information16.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade14.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration5%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$259,809
+53%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $93,172 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,025
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $471 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2000
from 69.0% in 2000
33.9% rent
Vacancy rate
5.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.32 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.42 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
16.3%
−8.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.6%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 46.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.5
+12%since 2009
from 3.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
67
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.6%(141,767)
Black0.4%(556)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(1,168)
Asian1.9%(2,823)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.2%(155,134)
Black1.3%(2,272)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(4,695)
Asian3%(5,297)
Other3.7%(6,517)
Diversity Score
25
+93%since 2009
from 13 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
22
−18%since 2020
from 27 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.6%(2,715)
Puerto Rican0.2%(407)
Nicaraguan0.3%(296)
Cuban0.1%(196)
Salvadoran0.1%(124)
Venezuelan0.1%(114)
Peruvian0%(51)
Colombian0%(43)
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data
Uruguayan0%(30)
Honduran0%(28)
Spaniard0%(27)
Argentine0%(23)
Chilean0%(10)
Asian origin
Hmong1.8%(3,171)
Filipino0.4%(659)
Chinese0.3%(460)
Korean0.2%(268)
Asian Indian0.2%(184)
Malaysian0.1%(156)
Vietnamese0.1%(155)
Japanese0%(76)
Laotian0%(55)
Pakistani0%(30)
+ 2 more asian origin groups with data
Thai0%(5)
Pacific Islander origin
Tongan0%(3)
Ancestry
German36.8%(64,024)
Norwegian14.9%(25,840)
Irish9.9%(17,203)
English6.9%(12,056)
Polish5.4%(9,465)
American3.4%(5,896)
Swedish3%(5,144)
French2.9%(5,051)
Italian2.5%(4,403)
Czech1.6%(2,717)
Scottish1.3%(2,234)
Dutch1.1%(1,983)
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data
Danish0.8%(1,469)
Swiss0.7%(1,286)
Austrian0.6%(1,043)
Welsh0.6%(1,031)
Finnish0.5%(785)
British0.3%(590)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(571)
Lithuanian0.3%(556)
Belgian0.3%(522)
Greek0.3%(449)
Russian0.2%(411)
Hungarian0.2%(407)
Ukrainian0.1%(192)
Portuguese0.1%(184)
Arab0.1%(164)
Slovak0.1%(163)
Slovene0.1%(129)
Croatian0.1%(110)
Serbian0.1%(110)
Ethiopian0.1%(89)
Canadian0.1%(88)
Jamaican0%(60)
Kenyan0.1%(59)
Armenian0%(57)
Macedonian0.1%(54)
Romanian0%(48)
Lebanese0%(47)
Nigerian0%(41)
Iranian0%(28)
Latvian0%(28)
Syrian0%(23)
Bulgarian0%(23)
Somali0%(23)
Turkish0%(21)
Moroccan0%(17)
Haitian0%(8)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.9%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 22.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.1%
+7.9 ptssince 2000
from 87.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.1%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 7.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.9 min
+61%since 2000
from 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.0%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 79.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.3%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.0%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 6.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.8%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 69.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
82.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 82.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
12.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.8%
+8.9 ptssince 2009
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
49.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
2.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.6%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.5%
+2.3 ptssince 2012
from 10.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.5%
−3.6 ptssince 2013
from 9.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.8%
+10.0 ptssince 2017
from 79.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
93.8%
+2.3 ptssince 2020
from 91.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
84.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2020
from 82.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
94.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 95.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married38.3%(27,910)
Married49.6%(36,186)
Widowed2.6%(1,903)
Divorced9.5%(6,927)
Women 15+
Never married31.7%(22,821)
Married49%(35,301)
Widowed7.7%(5,573)
Divorced11.6%(8,333)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
5.5%
−3.6 ptssince 2013
from 9.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
58.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2020
from 59.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
18.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 18.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
19.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2020
from 18.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
18.4%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 17.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 2.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
74.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 75.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
35.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2020
from 33.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)19.2%(1,758)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)18%(1,649)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era35.6%(3,268)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.5%(597)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1%(92)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 9,178 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
In this metro

Largest cities

Eau ClaireCENTRAL72,465Chippewa Falls15,293Altoona9,376Lake Hallie7,396Stanley3,876Bloomer3,634Lake Wissota3,184Seymour1,531Augusta1,483Cadott1,473Cornell1,443Fall Creek1,390Boyd603Fairchild435Jim Falls339Holcombe237
What's inside

2 component counties

Eau Claire CountyCENTRAL109,033Chippewa CountyCENTRAL67,614
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Eau Claire

Oshkosh
Pop 174,218
Iowa City
Pop 182,711
La Crosse
Pop 171,182
Janesville
Pop 166,472
Places similar to Eau Claire
Head to head

Compare Eau Claire side by side

EAU CLAIRE VS
Oshkosh
Income$74,925same
Home value$225,800−13%
Population174,218−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAU CLAIRE VS
Iowa City
Income$75,025+1%
Home value$295,418+14%
Population182,711+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAU CLAIRE VS
La Crosse
Income$73,555−1%
Home value$248,970−4%
Population171,182−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAU CLAIRE VS
Janesville
Income$75,673+1%
Home value$231,600−11%
Population166,472−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Eau Claire, WI?

Eau Claire, WI has about 173,915 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Eau Claire, WI?

The typical household in Eau Claire, WI earns about $74,597 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Eau Claire, WI expensive?

In Eau Claire, WI, the median home is worth about $259,809, and the typical rent is about $1,025 a month.

How educated are people in Eau Claire, WI?

About 31.9% of adults age 25 and over in Eau Claire, WI hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Eau Claire, WI?

About 11.2% of people in Eau Claire, WI live below the federal poverty line.

Has Eau Claire, WI grown since 1990?

Yes, Eau Claire, WI has grown since 1990. The population has added about 36,372 residents, a change of about 26 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →