Eau Claire County, Wisconsin

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.7 | 107,903 people · 44th most distressed in Wisconsin
American Default Research

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Eau Claire County, WI ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.7 — 2668th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Wisconsin, it ranks 44th of 72 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Eau Claire County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 59.8 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 59.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 47
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 82
Homeownership Rate 89
Rent-to-Income Ratio 33
Employment & Wages 38.3
Unemployment Rate 16
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 45
Business Formation Rate 54
Community Vulnerability 29.8
Uninsured Rate 34
Disability Rate 26
Income & Poverty 26.8
Poverty Rate 27
Income vs. State Median 41
Child Poverty Rate 12
Debt & Delinquency 18.7
Debt in Collections 11
Medical Debt 20
Student Loan Delinquency 15
Auto Loan Delinquency 20
Credit Card Delinquency 16
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 29

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Eau Claire County compares to its 7 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Eau Claire County
Eau Claire County, WI 34.7 Healthy —
Jackson County, WI 47.7 Normal +13.1
Clark County, WI 39.5 Normal +4.9
Trempealeau County, WI 36.5 Normal +1.8
Dunn County, WI 35.9 Normal +1.2
Buffalo County, WI 32.3 Healthy -2.4
Pepin County, WI 31.9 Healthy -2.8
Chippewa County, WI 31.3 Healthy -3.3

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Eau Claire County
Story County, IA 34.7 Healthy +0.0
Kendall County, IL 34.8 Healthy +0.1
McLean County, IL 34.8 Healthy +0.1
Gallatin County, MT 34.6 Healthy -0.1
Bedford County, VA 34.6 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Eau Claire County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Eau Claire County

Find an Attorney

State Bar of Wisconsin — Lawyer Referral and Information Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of Wisconsin — Lawyer Referral and Information Service 608-257-4666 (Madison); 414-274-6768 (Milwaukee)

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Eau Claire County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee 414-278-7722
Legal Action of Wisconsin 608-256-3191 (Madison); 414-278-7722 (Milwaukee)
Wisconsin Judicare 715-842-1681 (Wausau); 1-800-472-1638 (statewide)
Disability Rights Wisconsin 608-267-0214
Judicare Legal Aid (715) 842-1681

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Eau Claire County, Wisconsin?

    Eau Claire County has a County Distress Index score of 34.7 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,668th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in Wisconsin out of 72 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Eau Claire County?

    The primary driver of distress in Eau Claire County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 59.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Eau Claire County compare to neighboring counties?

    Eau Claire County (34.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Jackson County, WI (47.7); Clark County, WI (39.5); Trempealeau County, WI (36.5).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • What is the population of Eau Claire County?

    Eau Claire County, Wisconsin has a population of approximately 107,903 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.