Eau Claire

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Eau Claire, WI

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A picturesque college town in western Wisconsin

College Town Charming Scenic Riverside Eclectic Affordable

Eau Claire is the largest city in western Wisconsin, located just over an hour’s drive from the Twin Cities. Eau Claire is best known for being home to the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, contributing a college-town atmosphere to the community along with a penchant for independent thought. The university presence also contributes to Eau Claire’s self-proclaimed title, “The Indie Capital of the Midwest.” Eau Claire’s strong support of independent businesses and many local music festivals bolster the city’s claim to the title as well.

The local music festivals bring the Eau Claire community together, including the Eau Claire Jazz Festival, Rock Fest, Country Fest, Blue Ox, and Country Jam USA. Eau Claire residents also come together to enjoy outdoor recreation at the city’s many picturesque parks, such as Phoenix Park, Carson Park, and Mount Simon Park, in addition to numerous fishing spots along the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers.

Eau Claire boasts a charming small-town vibe in its historic downtown, where a slew of restaurants, bars, and shops in vintage storefronts line Barstow Street. Additional shopping and dining opportunities abound at Oakwood Mall too. Eau Claire offers a wide variety of apartments and houses available for rent in its tranquil residential neighborhoods. Quick access to I-94 connects Eau Claire to Madison, Minneapolis, and beyond.

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Eau Claire, WI is $1,041 for a studio, $1,133 for one bedroom, $1,280 for two bedrooms, and $1,572 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Eau Claire has increased by 1.7% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,133/month
681 Sq Ft
House
$1,521/month
973 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,464/month
1,231 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Eau Claire, WI

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Eau Claire, WI is 1.5% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Eau Claire is 9.4% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,041 - $1,572. You can expect to pay 3.7% less for groceries, 2.0% less for utilities, and 4.7% less for transportation.

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Transportation

48

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

52

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Meadowview Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

393 Students

8
out of 10

Robbins Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

505 Students

6
out of 10

Putnam Heights Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

416 Students

6
out of 10

Manz Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

359 Students

6
out of 10

Davey Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

356 Students

6
out of 10

DeLong Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

893 Students

5
out of 10

South Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

791 Students

5
out of 10

Northstar Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

501 Students

4
out of 10

Second Avenue School

Public

Grades 4-12

16 Students

Rating Unavailable

Memorial High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,552 Students

8
out of 10

North High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,663 Students

6
out of 10

Second Avenue School

Public

Grades 4-12

16 Students

Rating Unavailable

Oxford Avenue School

Public

Grades 10-12

Rating Unavailable

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Children's Museum of Eau Claire
  • L.E. Phillips Planetarium

Military Bases

Top Apartments in Eau Claire

Houses for Rent in Eau Claire

Property Management Companies in Eau Claire, WI

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.