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City · 70,322 residents · Eau Claire County, Wisconsin

Eau Claire , Wisconsin

In Eau Claire, a typical home is worth $247,600 and typical rent is $1,045 a month. Compared with all of Eau Claire County, typical household income is 10% lower, the typical home value is 5% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 7 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $247,600

    5% below the county

    7% below Wisconsin

    • Eau Claire
    • County
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical rent

    $1,045a month

    About the same as the county

    4% below Wisconsin

    • Eau Claire
    • County
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical household income

    $67,395a year

    10% below the county

    13% below Wisconsin

    • Eau Claire
    • County
    • Wisconsin

  • Households that own their home

    54%

    7 points below the county

    13 points below Wisconsin

    • Eau Claire
    • County
    • Wisconsin

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$317,833
2.2% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,119 a month
4.1% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Eau Claire is in Eau Claire County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Eau Claire County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Eau Claire apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Rice Lake, the typical home value is $193,800: 22% less than in Eau Claire ($247,600).

  2. Nearby, in Rice Lake, the typical rent is $856: 18% less than in Eau Claire ($1,045).

  3. 54% of households in Eau Claire own their home, against 61% in Eau Claire County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Eau Claire

What homes there are in Eau Claire, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Eau Claire (55%), but less so than in Eau Claire County (61%).

Year built

In Eau Claire, half of the homes were built before 1975; in Eau Claire County, before 1978.

In Eau Claire, 13% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 52% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 58% in Eau Claire County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 97% of owner-occupied homes in Eau Claire are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Eau Claire County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

Measured against HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,259), about 64% of rented homes in Eau Claire cost less.

With a mortgage

$1,556 a month

Eau Claire County: $1,625 a month

Without a mortgage

$633 a month

Eau Claire County: $634 a month

Owners with a mortgage

60%

Eau Claire County: 60%

In Eau Claire, 60% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,556 a month, about the same as in Eau Claire County.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Eau Claire rose 60% since 2015–2019, more than in Eau Claire County (54%).

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Eau Claire rose 25%, less than in Eau Claire County (29%).

The typical household income in Eau Claire rose 22%: less than home values (+60%) and rent (+25%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureEau ClaireEau Claire CountyWisconsinUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate2.8%4.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.5%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.6%1.9%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.182.302.332.53
Drive alone 76%76%74%69%
Carpool 6%6%7%9%
Public transit 1%1%1%3%
Walk or bike 4%3%3%3%
Work from home 12%13%13%15%
Other means 1%1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Eau Claire County, 1.6% of households in Eau Claire have more than one person per room.

Households in Eau Claire are smaller: 2.18 people on average; in Eau Claire County, 2.30.

In Eau Claire, 76% of workers drive alone to work; in Eau Claire County, 76%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Eau Claire?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Eau Claire, worth $247,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 38% of the typical household income in Eau Claire, which is $67,395 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $92,344 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Eau Claire County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Eau Claire. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,666 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,155

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$243,115
Total interest
$349,786
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,181 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,573 a month

  • Tight

    $1,573 to $2,022 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,022 a month

    Your payment · 38%

Compared with the typical household income in Eau Claire ($67,395 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,155
Principal & interest$1,647
Property tax$295
Home insurance$103
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$110

You need at least $8,666 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Eau Claire and Eau Claire County

Eau Claire is in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Eau Claire's own numbers

Typical home value
$247,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,045
Typical yearly household income
$67,395
Households that own their home
54%
Effective property tax rate
1.43%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Eau Claire County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,259
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+54%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.8%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Eau Claire County.

Everything about Eau Claire County

Buying

Buying a home in Eau Claire

A typical home in Eau Claire is worth $247,600: 5% below the county and 7% below Wisconsin. With the typical household income in Eau Claire ($67,395 a year), a typical home costs 3.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Eau Claire 3.7 years
  • County 3.5 years
  • Wisconsin 3.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Eau Claire County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Eau Claire County rose 99% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Eau Claire County.

Period County Wisconsin U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.1% +5.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +54% +57% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +99% +96% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Eau Claire next to Eau Claire County, Wisconsin and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Eau Claire $247,600
  • County $261,000
  • Wisconsin $266,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Eau Claire $1,045
  • County $1,064
  • Wisconsin $1,087
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Eau Claire $67,395
  • County $74,546
  • Wisconsin $77,485
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Eau Claire next to Eau Claire County and Wisconsin
Measure Eau Claire Eau Claire County Wisconsin U.S.
Typical home value $247,600 $261,000 $266,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,045 $1,064 $1,087 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $67,395 $74,546 $77,485 $80,734
Households that own their home 54% 61% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,553 $3,514 $3,792 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.43% 1.35% 1.42% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 41% 39% 44% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Eau Claire County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Eau Claire

For a typical $247,600 home in Eau Claire, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Eau Claire's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,155a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,666
    Cash to close
    $16,094
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $110

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,109a month

    Down payment
    $12,380
    Cash to close
    $19,808
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $118

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,740a month

    Down payment
    $49,520
    Cash to close
    $56,948
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,969a month

    Down payment
    $37,140
    Cash to close
    $44,568
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Eau Claire and for Eau Claire County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Eau Claire

1.43%of the home’s value each year

$3,553 a year for the typical owner in Eau Claire.

  • Eau Claire 1.43%
  • County 1.35%
  • Wisconsin 1.42%

What Wisconsin publishes Lottery and Gaming Credit for your primary residence (Wisconsin Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Wisconsin

Flood risk in Eau Claire County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Eau Claire County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.8%
632
Of those, with NFIP insurance
9.5%
County Wisconsin U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.8% 1.4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 9.5% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Eau Claire

Typical rent in Eau Claire is $1,045 a month: about the same as the county. In Eau Claire, 41% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Eau Claire County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,259 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.21 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Eau Claire County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,014 $19.50 $40,560
1 bedroom $1,017 $19.56 $40,680
2 bedrooms $1,259 $24.21 $50,360
3 bedrooms $1,695 $32.60 $67,800
4 bedrooms $1,701 $32.71 $68,040

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Eau Claire

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Eau Claire has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,280 in 54703 to $1,290 in 54701.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Eau Claire County ($1,259).

  • 54701 $1,290$1,740
  • 54703 $1,280$1,720

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Eau Claire when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Eau Claire

HUD lists 18 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Eau Claire. These are the largest.

  • Park Towers Apartments 901 S Farwell St, Eau Claire 54701 153 low-income homes · For families (715) 839-4943
  • Scattered Sites 2622 Sessions Ct, Eau Claire 54701 110 low-income homes · Run by Eau Claire Housing Authority · Average payment: $638 a month · Average wait: 15 months · Homes at several sites (715) 839-4943
  • ST. Johns Housing 815 Chapin St, Eau Claire 54701 101 low-income homes · For older adults (715) 834-6302
  • Grace Barstow Apartments 1105 S Barstow St, Eau Claire 54701 79 low-income homes · For older adults (715) 832-1174
  • Otter Creek 5726 Otter Creek Ct, Eau Claire 54701 64 low-income homes · 1 bd: 21 · 2 bd: 35 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 1998

See all 21 buildings in Eau Claire County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Eau Claire

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Eau Claire County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Eau Claire

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Eau Claire or Eau Claire County. The ones below are statewide in Wisconsin: they work in Eau Claire the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Wisconsin

  • WHEDA Easy Close Advantage DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Wisconsin state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to 6% of the price, over 10 years with a monthly payment and the same rate as the WHEDA first mortgage. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • WHEDA Capital Access DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    $7,500 loan from the Wisconsin state agency for the down payment and closing costs, over 30 years, at 0% and with no monthly payments, alongside a WHEDA mortgage; limited funds, first come, first served. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Eau Claire

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Eau Claire, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc

    1 Better Way, Eau Claire · 3 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in American Sign Language (ASL) and Hmong.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Homelessness services
    • and 2 more
    (715) 836-7511

  • First Nations Community Financial

    206 S Roosevelt Rd Ste 123, Black River Falls · 49 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 3 more
    (715) 284-2470

  • CCCS of Sheboygan

    505 King Street, Suite 212, La Crosse · 71 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (844) 307-7220

Every agency in Eau Claire County All counseling agencies in Wisconsin

Help in Spanish near Eau Claire

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Eau Claire

HUD’s record names them for Eau Claire or Eau Claire County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Eau Claire Housing Authority Public housing (715) 839-4943
  • Eau Claire County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (715) 839-6240

One other authority has an office in Eau Claire County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Eau Claire County

These cities are also in Eau Claire County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Eau Claire County Housing in Wisconsin

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Eau Claire, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Eau Claire County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Eau Claire.

All guides
Three women of one family lean in together to stir the pan.

Questions

Housing questions about Eau Claire

Short answers with the numbers for Eau Claire and all of Eau Claire County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Eau Claire?

The typical home value in Eau Claire is $247,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Eau Claire County it is $261,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Eau Claire?

Typical rent in Eau Claire is $1,045 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Eau Claire County is $1,259.

What is the FHA loan limit in Eau Claire?

Eau Claire uses the FHA limit for all of Eau Claire County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Eau Claire?

The typical homeowner in Eau Claire pays $3,553 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.43% of the home’s value; in Eau Claire County, the rate is 1.35%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Eau Claire?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Eau Claire County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).