1st Advantage MortgageIn Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, the typical household earns $74,546 a year and the typical rent is $1,064. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Eau Claire County by the numbers
- How Eau Claire County residents earn a living
- What Eau Claire County households earn
- Eau Claire County housing compared with Wisconsin
- How Eau Claire County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Eau Claire County
- A Eau Claire County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Eau Claire County
- Who lives in Eau Claire County, in numbers
- Before you sign
- Wisconsin rules that apply in Eau Claire County
- More guides for Eau Claire County
- Frequently asked questions
Eau Claire County by the numbers
With an estimated 107,116 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Eau Claire County ranks 14th of 72 in Wisconsin for population. Land area is 638 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 168 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Eau Claire, WI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Eau Claire is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 70,322 people (66% of the county total).
How Eau Claire County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Eau Claire County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by retail trade (17%). Compared with Wisconsin, the county leans toward retail trade (17% against 11%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 76% drive to work alone and 6% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Eau Claire County workers | vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.1% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 16.7% | +5.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.0% | -4.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.2% | +0.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Eau Claire County households earn
At $74,546, the typical Eau Claire County household income is 13% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 33rd among Wisconsin's 72 county-level areas.
| Band | Eau Claire County | Compared with Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.2% | -1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.7% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.2% | -1.0 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 11.8%, 1 point higher than the state's 10.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.443 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Eau Claire County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Eau Claire County housing compared with Wisconsin
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,064 in Eau Claire County versus $1,087 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 39% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $261,000, about 3.5 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 61%. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Eau Claire County | Wisconsin figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,064/mo | $1,087/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $261,000 | $266,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 11% | n/a |
How Eau Claire County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 34 miles). Trempealeau County leads the group on income ($76,313), Clark County trails ($67,400), and Eau Claire County out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire County | - | $74,546 | $1,064/mo | 61% |
| Chippewa County, WI | 24 mi | $74,680 | $963/mo | 74% |
| Pepin County, WI | 28 mi | $75,256 | $869/mo | 83% |
| Trempealeau County, WI | 29 mi | $76,313 | $949/mo | 74% |
| Buffalo County, WI | 33 mi | $70,479 | $876/mo | 78% |
| Clark County, WI | 33 mi | $67,400 | $823/mo | 79% |
| Dunn County, WI | 34 mi | $74,824 | $985/mo | 67% |
Towns and communities in Eau Claire County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Eau Claire County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 83,979 residents, leaving about 22% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $53,714 in Augusta to $95,139 in Seymour. Rent is cheapest in Augusta ($837) and steepest in Seymour ($1,402). Live in one of these Eau Claire County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire | city | 70,322 | $67,395 | $1,045 | 12 mi |
| Altoona | city | 8,878 | $84,552 | $1,285 | 9 mi |
| Seymour | CDP | 1,531 | $95,139 | $1,402 | 10 mi |
| Fall Creek | village | 1,493 | $86,818 | $1,046 | 3 mi |
| Augusta | city | 1,341 | $53,714 | $837 | 9 mi |
| Fairchild | village | 414 | $48,750 | $692 | 18 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
A Eau Claire County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Eau Claire County's medians:
- $6,212 a month: gross income for a household at the Eau Claire County median
- Less median rent of $1,064, which is 17% of it
- Under a 35% cap, $2,174 total minus rent leaves $1,110
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,731 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Eau Claire County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Eau Claire County
Where the Eau Claire County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Consolidating cards in Eau Claire County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Who lives in Eau Claire County, in numbers
Degree holders: 37% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Eau Claire County | Wisconsin | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.8% | 33.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.1% | 6.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 5.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 13.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 3.2% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.5% |
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Wisconsin rules that apply in Eau Claire County
Consumer lenders serving Eau Claire County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Wisconsin that is the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Wisconsin: Wisconsin personal loans.
More guides for Eau Claire County
For statewide rules and data, see the Wisconsin guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eau Claire County a high-income county?
Its $74,546 median ranks 33rd of 72 Wisconsin counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Eau Claire County?
$1,064 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Which towns does the Eau Claire County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Eau Claire, Altoona, Seymour, Fall Creek, Augusta.
Is the fit check different in Eau Claire County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Eau Claire County check a lender's license?
With the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.