Chippewa Falls receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Chippewa Falls
Menomonie
Opportunity
72 · Top 20%
vs77 · Top 11%
Growth
47 · Bottom 45%
vs47 · Bottom 45%
Climate
53 · Bottom 2%
vs53 · Bottom 2%
Physical resilience
81 · Top 22%
vs72 · Top 34%
Housing affordability
91 · Top 30%
vs84 · Top 44%
Access
98 · Top 19%
vs91 · Bottom 48%
Economic stability
55 · Bottom 39%
vs51 · Bottom 33%
Measured values
| Metric | Chippewa Falls | Menomonie | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,782 | 16,539 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,873 | $56,889 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,256 | $32,639 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,300/sq mi | 1,201/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $210,400 | $220,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $910 | $970 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 50.7% | 40.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.3% | 2.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 38.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 17.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 54 | 19 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.7 | 1.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -61.4% | -20.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 6°F | 6°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.0" | 33.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 18.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.2 | 26.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Chippewa Falls
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Menomonie
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Chippewa Falls
71
Your Score
71
Area Score
Menomonie
65
Your Score
66
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Chippewa Falls, WI · Menomonie, WI · How this is calculated: methodology