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METRO AREA

Eau Claire Metro

Eau Claire, WI · 2 counties · 176,647 residents (2025 est.) · 1,646.277 sq mi
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The short version

Eau Claire has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $74,597. Population has grown 17% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $259,809. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

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
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

PEP 2025 EST:176,647 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
134K145K156K167K178K1990201020202024Eau Claire
2024174K
1990201020202024
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%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: 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%
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
+47%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
67
RELATED:See current rent listings in Eau Claire on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.6%(141,767)
Black0.4%(556)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(1,168)
Asian1.9%(2,823)
Other0%
Diversity Score7.6%(11,262)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.2%(155,134)
Black1.3%(2,272)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(4,695)
Asian3%(5,297)
Other3.7%(6,517)
Diversity Score25.1%(43,715)
Segregation Score22.3%(38,851)
Diversity Score
25
+231%since 2000
from 8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
22
−18%since 2020
from 27 in 2020
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%
Self-employed
12.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.8%
−24.4 ptssince 2009
from 62.2% 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%
−42.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% 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%
−85.4 ptssince 2013
from 90.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.8%
+10.0 ptssince 2017
from 79.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
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%
In this metro

Principal cities

Eau ClaireCENTRAL72,465
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 →