Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Eau Claire
Chippewa Falls
Opportunity
78 · Top 9%
vs72 · Top 20%
Growth
58 · Top 35%
vs47 · Bottom 45%
Climate
53 · Bottom 2%
vs53 · Bottom 2%
Physical resilience
79 · Top 26%
vs81 · Top 22%
Housing affordability
91 · Top 29%
vs91 · Top 30%
Access
98 · Top 19%
vs98 · Top 19%
Economic stability
63 · Top 44%
vs55 · Bottom 39%
Measured values
| Metric | Eau Claire | Chippewa Falls | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 70,322 | 14,782 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,395 | $57,873 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,434 | $31,256 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,048/sq mi | 1,300/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $247,600 | $210,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,045 | $910 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 54.4% | 50.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 3.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.0% | 1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.7% | 20.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.3% | 15.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 456 | 54 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.5 | 3.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -35.7% | -61.4% | 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 | 3 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 18.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.9 | 39.2 | 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
Eau Claire
Elevated or high exposure: hail, strong wind, tornado.
Chippewa Falls
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Eau Claire
71
Your Score
71
Area Score
Chippewa Falls
71
Your Score
71
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Eau Claire, WI · Chippewa Falls, WI · How this is calculated: methodology