Eau Claire County
WI · Pop. 106,328 · Mixed County
Eau Claire County, Wisconsin covers 638 square miles with a population of 106,328 and a density of 166.7 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on corn, hay, soybeans. A median home price of $242,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.43% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 148-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.1°F and average winter lows of 6.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 33.1 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Oakleaf Surgical Hospital is 10.2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 97% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 97% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Oakleaf Surgical Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 10.2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 2.9% reflects a stable local job base.
- A low poverty rate of 11.5% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A 148-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.43% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
- Average winter lows of 6.7°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
At a glance
Eau Claire County, WI is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 35/100
- Median home price
- $242k
- Property tax
- 1.43%
- Growing season
- 148 days (zone 4b)
- Annual rainfall
- 33.1"
- Broadband
- 97%
- Nearest hospital
- Oakleaf Surgical Hospital, 10.2 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Eau Claire County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Eau Claire County?
- Eau Claire County is in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 148-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.1°F, and average winter lows of 6.7°F. The established crops are corn, hay, soybeans.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $242,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.43%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 97% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Oakleaf Surgical Hospital is 10.2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 5 hospitals in the county.
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More counties in Wisconsin
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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