Eau Claire receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Sioux City
Eau Claire
Opportunity
68 · Top 26%
vs81 · Top 8%
Growth
61 · Top 32%
vs58 · Top 36%
Climate
56 · Bottom 15%
vs53 · Bottom 6%
Physical resilience
57 · Top 48%
vs81 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs95 · Top 50%
Access
97 · Top 12%
vs98 · Top 8%
Economic stability
80 · Top 15%
vs84 · Top 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Sioux City | Eau Claire | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 144,682 | 173,915 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,192 | $74,595 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,232 | $40,975 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 91/sq mi | 106/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $193,100 | $259,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,002 | $1,033 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.3% | 66.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.6% | 1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 31.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 11.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 467 | 906 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.2 | 5.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 37.4% | -26.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 10°F | 6°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.3" | 33.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 20.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.2 | 38.2 | 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
Sioux City
Elevated or high exposure: heat wave, strong wind.
Eau Claire
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Sioux City
74
Your Score
70
Area Score
Eau Claire
78
Your Score
76
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Metro Area · Eau Claire, WI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology