Eau Claire is a small town of 604 in Michigan, with a median household income of $61,667
and a 2.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Eau Claire stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Eau Claire is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Eau Claire city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 93.7
Eau Claire's overall cost of living index is 93.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Eau Claire costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Eau Claire, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$131,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$933
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$61,667
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Eau Claire's violent crime rate is 262.1 per 100,000 residents
— 31% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
262.1 /100k
Property Crime
1045.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Eau Claire is served primarily by Eau Claire Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Eau Claire, MI
National Avg
School District
Eau Claire Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
35.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Eau Claire sees average highs of 33.3°F in January
and 84.6°F in July,
with 38.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 86.6 inches of snow per year.
Eau Claire's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Eau Claire roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $131,500 and median rent is $933/month.
Eau Claire's violent crime rate is 262.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1045.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Eau Claire are operated by Eau Claire Public Schools.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.2:1. 35.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Eau Claire, MI has a population of 604, a median household income of $61,667, and an unemployment rate of 2.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Eau Claire averages 33.3°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.3 inches
with about 86.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Eau Claire, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49111.
The population of Eau Claire, Michigan is 604 with a median age of 35.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Eau Claire: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $131,500, median household income $61,667, crime index 61 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Eau Claire side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
