Eau Claire vs Wausau
Eau Claire, Wisconsin versus Wausau, Wisconsin: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Wausau edges out Eau Claire on overall objective livability (50 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Eau Claire | Wausau |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $64k | $59k |
| Cost of Living | $48k | $45k |
| Home Value | $209k | $147k |
| Monthly Rent | $929 | $898 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.64% | 2.00% |
| Income Tax | 7.60% | 7.60% |
| Sales Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.85% | 14.44% |
| Unemployment | 3.6% | 4.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 15°F | 15°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 70°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.8 in | 34.7 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.0 in | 63.4 in |
| Sunny Days | 217 days | 211 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 59°F |
| Comfortable Days | 83 days | 81 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 62.5 | 55.1 |
| Air Quality | 52 AQI | 42 AQI |
| School Quality | 53.7 | 55.5 |
| Violent Crime | 1183/100k | 1095/100k |
| Property Crime | 2234/100k | 1283/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 69,098 | 39,906 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 38.6 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.22 | 0.31 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.92 | 0.96 |
| Political Leaning | D+11 | R+18 |
| White (%) | 86.7% | 79.7% |
| Black (%) | 1.3% | 0.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.7% | 4.7% |
| Asian (%) | 6.0% | 10.7% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.3% | 4.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 16 min | 15 min |
| Walkability | 9.0/20 | 9.8/20 |
| Airport Distance | 86 mi | 165 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.4% | 86.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 38.93 | 60.89 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Eau Claire or Wausau more affordable?
- Wausau has the lower cost of living: its index is $45k, compared with Eau Claire's $48k and Wausau's $45k. Median rent is $929 in Eau Claire versus $898 in Wausau.
- Is Eau Claire or Wausau safer?
- Wausau has the lower violent crime rate. Eau Claire reports 1183/100k and Wausau reports 1095/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Eau Claire or Wausau?
- The median home value is $209k in Eau Claire and $147k in Wausau, so homes are more affordable in Wausau.