HomeWisconsinEau Claire County
Eau Claire County, Wisconsin: commercial real estate data.
Eau Claire County, Wisconsin had an estimated 108,830 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 105,696, across 638 square miles. County output reached $8.43 bn in 2024, 2,753 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 174 7(a) approvals worth $98.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Eau Claire County
How many people live in Eau Claire County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024107,116
- Households44,726
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$74,546
- Median age35.8
- Median gross rent$1,064 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$261,000
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher36.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over68,922
- Population under 1821,207
- Share under 1819.8 percent
- Population 65 and over18,178
- Share 65 and over17.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6467,731
- Civilian labor force61,000
- Unemployment rate3.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over71.0 percent
- Rank by population among Wisconsin counties14th of 72
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included585th of 3,222
Eau Claire County is the 14th largest of 72 Wisconsin counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 19.8 percent against 17.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Eau Claire County
Is Eau Claire County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024108,830
- Census 2020 base population105,696
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.97 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024772
- Births, 20241,077
- Deaths, 2024943
- Natural change, 2024134
- Net domestic migration, 2024418
- Net international migration, 2024214
- Total net migration, 2024632
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,832
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents879th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.97 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Eau Claire County
Where are people moving to Eau Claire County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving3,248
- People arriving, from those returns5,046
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,194
- Net household movement54
- Adjusted gross income arriving$203.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$12.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$62,763
- Average income of a leaving household$59,986
- Largest single originChippewa County (594 households)
- Largest single destinationChippewa County (754 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa County | 594 | 955 | $39.6 m |
| Dunn County | 227 | 347 | $10.5 m |
| Trempealeau County | 118 | 183 | $6.3 m |
| Barron County | 103 | 138 | $5.3 m |
| Hennepin County | 99 | 141 | $8.0 m |
| Dane County | 88 | 147 | $10.5 m |
| La Crosse County | 75 | 105 | $4.2 m |
| Marathon County | 65 | 98 | $4.0 m |
Households arriving report $2,777 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Chippewa County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Eau Claire County
What is the Eau Claire County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$8.43 bn
- County GDP, 2023$8.05 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.8 percent
- GDP change over five years29.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Wisconsin areas BEA publishes14th of 72
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes506th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$78,702
Output grew 4.8 percent in the latest year and 29.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Eau Claire County
Employment by industry in Eau Claire County
- Covered employment, annual average58,758
- Establishments reporting3,254
- Average annual pay$58,079
- Average weekly wage$1,117
- Health care and social assistance, employment12,905
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$71,834
- Retail trade, employment7,840
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,893
- Accommodation and food services, employment5,650
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,825
- Manufacturing, employment5,003
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$64,806
- Transportation and warehousing, employment2,737
- Management of companies and enterprises, employment2,551
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 12,905 | 793 | $71,834 |
| Retail trade | 7,840 | 378 | $33,893 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5,650 | 287 | $20,825 |
| Manufacturing | 5,003 | 102 | $64,806 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 2,737 | 82 | $51,106 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 2,551 | 40 | $107,363 |
| Wholesale trade | 2,252 | 145 | $84,529 |
| Construction | 2,240 | 201 | $71,840 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 12,905 jobs, 22.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Eau Claire County
How many businesses are in Eau Claire County?
- Establishments, all industries2,753
- Employment at those establishments51,990
- Annual payroll$2.79 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.7
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Eau Claire County
Building permits in Eau Claire County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024590
- Declared construction value permitted$151.4 m
- Single family units authorized185
- Multifamily units authorized405
- Multifamily share of units68.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$256,693
- Units authorized per 1,000 households13.2
Multifamily is 68.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Eau Claire County
SBA loans in Eau Claire County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded174
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$98.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$566,464
- Median 7(a) approval$205,000
- 10th percentile approval$21,290
- 90th percentile approval$1,447,940
- Largest single approval$4,878,600
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,615
- Jobs per approval9.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active32
- Distinct industries receiving approvals96
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer15.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms27
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter127
- Franchise loans18
- Franchise share of approvals10.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLandscaping Services (6)
- Most active lenderCCFBank National Association (60)
- 504 approvals recorded85
- 504 gross approval dollars$83.9 m
- Average 504 approval$986,918
- Median 504 approval$567,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval10.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.1
- Most active CDCWBD, Inc. (81)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$182.5 m
The average approval of $566,464 sits well above the median of $205,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 15.5 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Eau Claire County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Eau Claire County
Do SBA loans in Eau Claire County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded41
- Paid in full40
- Charged off1
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans2.4 percent
- Status: Cancelled16
- Status: Exempt from disclosure113
- Status: Paid in full40
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed4
Of the 41 loans that have reached a final outcome, 2.4 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Eau Claire County
SBA lending by place in Eau Claire County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Eau Claire, approvals125
- Altoona, approvals20
- Chippewa Falls, approvals8
- Strum, approvals8
- Fall Creek, approvals7
- Eleva, approvals4
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire | 125 | $78,914,200 |
| Altoona | 20 | $6,598,100 |
| Chippewa Falls | 8 | $4,856,200 |
| Strum | 8 | $2,592,000 |
| Fall Creek | 7 | $4,828,400 |
| Eleva | 4 | $652,400 |
| Mondovi | 1 | $93,000 |
| Augusta | 1 | $30,400 |
Eau Claire accounts for 125 approvals against 20 in Altoona. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Eau Claire County
How large is Eau Claire County?
- Land area638 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Wisconsin counties45th of 72
- Width, east to west35.8 mi
- Height, north to south18 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land168
- Establishments per square mile4.32
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Eau Claire County
Flood risk in Eau Claire County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Eau Claire County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 555552
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate83.3 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 9
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Eau Claire County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Eau Claire County (community 555552), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Eau Claire County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 9, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 83.3 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Eau Claire County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Eau Claire County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024107,116
- Households44,726
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$74,546
- Median age35.8
Common questions
Eau Claire County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin?
The Census Bureau estimates 108,830 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 107,116, in 44,726 households, ranking 14th of 72 Wisconsin counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Eau Claire County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.97 percent since the 2020 census base of 105,696, to 108,830 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,077 births against 943 deaths, with net migration of 632. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Eau Claire County?
$74,546. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $261,000, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,064 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Eau Claire County?
2,753 establishments, employing 51,990 people with an annual payroll of $2.79 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Eau Claire County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 12,905 jobs, 22.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 58,758 jobs at an average annual pay of $58,079, or $1,117 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Eau Claire County?
174 7(a) approvals totaling $98.6 m since FY2020, across 32 lenders, with a median approval of $205,000, plus 85 504 approvals worth $83.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Eau Claire County get paid back?
Of the 41 loans that have reached a final outcome, 40 were paid in full and 1 charged off, a charge-off rate of 2.4 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Eau Claire County?
590 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $151.4 m. Multifamily was 68.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Eau Claire County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Eau Claire County come from?
The largest single origin is Chippewa County, with 594 households. Arriving households report an average income of $62,763 against $59,986 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Eau Claire County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Eau Claire County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Eau Claire County
Cities and places in Eau Claire.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Eau Claire County. All 6 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire | city | 70,322 | 125 | 87.7 percent here, 12.3 percent Chippewa County |
| Altoona | city | 8,878 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Seymour | CDP | 1,531 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fall Creek | village | 1,493 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Augusta | city | 1,341 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Fairchild | village | 414 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 21 of the county's 174 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Eau Claire County, the largest being Chippewa Falls (8), Strum (8), Eleva (4). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
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