Best Life Index › States › Wisconsin › Cities › Eau Claire

Wisconsin city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Eau Claire?

What it costs to live in Eau Claire, and how it compares with other Wisconsin cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

36

49th best value in Wisconsin

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Wisconsin cities.

Overall livability

40

41st overall in Wisconsin

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Eau Claire is home to about 69,030 people. A typical home runs $178,000 and a household earns around $60,600, a price-to-income ratio of 2.9. Among Wisconsin's largest cities, it ranks 49th for value and 41st overall.

Eau Claire at a glance

Median home price

$178,000

30th in WI of 57

Median rent

$851/mo

Median household income

$60,600

Home price to income

2.9x

Unemployment

3.9%

40th in WI of 57

School rating

4/10

36th in WI of 57

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in WI of 57

Walk score

7/100

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‹ See all top Wisconsin cities ranked  ยท  Wisconsin state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Wisconsin only. Updated 2026.