Department of Numbers

Eau Claire Wisconsin Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Eau Claire, WI (the Eau Claire metro area) was $817 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Eau Claire was $817 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Eau Claire median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Eau Claire rental vacancy rates, Eau Claire rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Eau Claire.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Eau Claire Wisconsin (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Wisconsin Median Gross Rent $867 +0.58% +3.21%
Eau Claire, WI Median Gross Rent $817 +1.24% -0.73%

Eau Claire, WI Real Gross Rent Trends

Median gross rent for Eau Claire peaked in real terms in 2016 at $823 and is now $6 (0.73%) lower. Average gross rent for Eau Claire peaked in real terms in 2016 at $824 and is now $7 (0.85%) lower.

Real Gross Rent in Eau Claire: Eau Claire WI Median, Eau Claire WI Average, Wisconsin Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Eau Claire

Date US
Median
Wisconsin
Median
Eau Claire, WI
Median
Eau Claire, WI
Average
2019 $1,097 $867 $817 $817
2018 $1,077 $862 $807 $810
2017 $1,043 $844 $791 $798
2016 $1,027 $840 $823 $824
2015 $1,017 $840 $809 $799
2014 $986 $826 $792 $759
2013 $953 $798 $747 $694
2012 $940 $790 $754 $741
2011 $941 $798 $746 $758
2010 $955 $799 $686 $713
2009 $960 $807 $708 $728

more history ...

Eau Claire Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Eau Claire Wisconsin was 6.59% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Eau Claire Wisconsin

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Wisconsin 4.93% -0.46% +0.08%
Eau Claire, WI 6.59% +1.56% +4.05%

Trends in Eau Claire, WI Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Eau Claire peaked in 2007 at 8.46%. Since then it has fallen by 1.87% to 6.59%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2013 post peak low of 1.96%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 4.63%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Eau Claire WI, Wisconsin, US

Rental vacancy rate in Wisconsin

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Eau Claire

Date US Wisconsin Eau Claire, WI
2019 5.97% 4.93% 6.59%
2018 6.15% 5.39% 5.03%
2017 6.18% 5.20% 6.69%
2016 5.89% 4.85% 2.54%
2015 5.85% 4.67%
2014 6.32% 4.64% 2.83%
2013 6.49% 5.22% 1.96%
2012 6.77% 5.48% 3.91%
2011 7.40% 5.17% 4.38%
2010 8.17% 6.16% 4.64%
2009 8.43% 5.86% 2.31%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Eau Claire, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Eau Claire, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 15.45% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Eau Claire Wisconsin Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Wisconsin 16.21% -0.51% -0.73%
Eau Claire, WI 15.45% -0.39% -3.02%

Trends in Eau Claire, WI Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Eau Claire household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2016 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.47%. Since then it has fallen by 3.02% to 15.45%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Eau Claire WI, Wisconsin, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Eau Claire Wisconsin

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Eau Claire Wisconsin

Date US Wisconsin Eau Claire, WI
2019 20.03% 16.21% 15.45%
2018 20.50% 16.72% 15.84%
2017 20.13% 16.57% 16.59%
2016 20.43% 16.94% 18.47%
2015 20.63% 17.08% 17.58%
2014 20.89% 17.83% 18.42%
2013 20.78% 17.67% 17.35%
2012 20.65% 17.46% 17.47%
2011 20.70% 17.60% 16.79%
2010 20.50% 17.51% 16.71%
2009 20.12% 16.99% 16.70%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Eau Claire Wisconsin

You can calculate the renter fraction in Eau Claire in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Eau Claire as a fraction of total Eau Claire households. In 2019 29.91% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Eau Claire Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Wisconsin 32.80% -0.06% -0.54%
Eau Claire, WI 29.91% -2.34% -4.30%

Trends in the Eau Claire, WI Renter Fraction

The Eau Claire household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 37.26% and is now 7.35% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Eau Claire WI, Wisconsin, US

Fraction of renters in Eau Claire

History of Eau Claire Renter Fraction

Date US Wisconsin Eau Claire, WI
2019 35.89% 32.80% 29.91%
2018 36.05% 32.86% 32.25%
2017 36.13% 33.39% 33.00%
2016 36.88% 33.34% 34.21%
2015 36.97% 33.21% 31.00%
2014 36.90% 33.40% 37.26%
2013 36.50% 32.82% 32.29%
2012 36.09% 32.71% 33.87%
2011 35.42% 32.15% 33.45%
2010 34.65% 31.30% 32.40%
2009 34.13% 31.02% 33.22%

more history ...

1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability.

2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series.

3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied.