Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Eau Claire, WI

    Is Eau Claire a good place to live?

    Watch Eau Claire

    Eau Claire ranks #21 of 35 Wisconsin cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (46/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.3% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $228,000
    +9.0% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $971
    per month
    Household income
    $65,369
    median
    Unemployment
    3.7%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Eau Claire

    The median home value in Eau Claire is $228,000 and median rent is $971 a month, against a median household income of $65,369. Homes cost about 3.5× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Eau Claire crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Wisconsin the 2025 rate was 245 violent and 1,033 property crimes per 100,000 people — #45 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Eau Claire, WI

    Eau Claire has about 69,274 residents, 3.7% unemployment and 24% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Eau Claire with

    Eau Claire vs MilwaukeeEau Claire vs MadisonEau Claire vs Green BayEau Claire vs KenoshaEau Claire vs RacineEau Claire vs AppletonEau Claire vs WaukeshaEau Claire vs Oshkosh

    More: Where to move in Wisconsin · Best counties in Wisconsin

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report