The Town FilesEau Claire, Wisconsin
City in Eau Claire County · population 69,421 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $247,600
- Household income
- $67,395
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 32.9
Eau Claire is a city of 69,421 people in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $247,600, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Wisconsin towns.
How Eau Claire ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Eau Claire is worth $247,600, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $67,395, which is more affordable than 23% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,045 a month. 54.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Eau Claire | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,045 | $951 |
| Median household income | $67,395 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 54.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Eau Claire
| People | Eau Claire | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.7% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 89.1% |
Weather in Eau Claire
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 7.9°F. About 32.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eau Claire since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 4, 1958 about 7.8 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 71 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 21, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Eau Claire County since 1996
Eau Claire County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 1993 | Severe Storm | DR-994: Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Eau Claire County
Eau Claire County had 58,758 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,079 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Eau Claire itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Eau Claire
24 public schools with 10,866 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North High | 9-12 | 1,572 | 16.0 |
| Memorial High | 9-12 | 1,558 | 16.8 |
| DeLong Middle | 6-8 | 861 | 11.8 |
| South Middle | 6-8 | 792 | 9.0 |
| Robbins Elementary | K-5 | 534 | 14.1 |
| Northstar Middle | 6-8 | 529 | 12.9 |
| Sherman Elementary | K-5 | 490 | 14.0 |
| Eau Claire Community Sites | PK-PK | 469 | 31.3 |
| Putnam Heights Elementary | K-5 | 422 | 12.4 |
| Meadowview Elementary | K-5 | 407 | 14.0 |
| Davey Elementary | K-5 | 352 | 13.5 |
| Manz Elementary | K-5 | 339 | 11.3 |
Towns near Eau Claire
- Altoona, WI3.0 mi · 8,293 people · home $233,100
- Union, WI5.2 mi · 2,696 people · home $307,000
- Lake Hallie, WI6.2 mi · 7,170 people · home $292,100
- Wheaton, WI6.9 mi · 2,759 people · home $302,900
- Washington, WI7.0 mi · 7,662 people · home $367,300
- Seymour, WI7.6 mi · 3,352 people · home $320,200
- Chippewa Falls, WI9.6 mi · 14,731 people · home $210,400
- Pleasant Valley, WI10.9 mi · 3,791 people · home $452,400
Eau Claire questions
Is Eau Claire, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Eau Claire scores better for retirees than 7% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 2%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.9).
How much does a house cost in Eau Claire?
The median owner-occupied home in Eau Claire is valued at $247,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,395, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,045 a month.
What is the weather like in Eau Claire?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 7.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 54.0 inches of snow.
Does Eau Claire get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eau Claire since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 4, 1958. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)