HousingPermits

Metro area in Wisconsin · part of the Eau Claire-Menomonie, WI combined area

Eau Claire, WI

The Eau Claire metro area authorized 946 new housing units in 2025. Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes supplied 15% of its units in 2021–2025, the third-highest share among the 60 metro areas based in the East North Central states. Recent building has outrun the boom: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 20% above the 2004–2006 average, the third-largest recovery by this measure among the 60 metro areas based in the East North Central states.

04008001,2001,6002004: 1,102 units (867 single-family, 144 in 2–4 unit, 91 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 970 units (708 single-family, 144 in 2–4 unit, 118 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 782 units (615 single-family, 81 in 2–4 unit, 86 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 651 units (504 single-family, 63 in 2–4 unit, 84 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 480 units (327 single-family, 92 in 2–4 unit, 61 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 421 units (311 single-family, 84 in 2–4 unit, 26 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 357 units (292 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 27 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 364 units (245 single-family, 55 in 2–4 unit, 64 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 605 units (301 single-family, 88 in 2–4 unit, 216 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 656 units (335 single-family, 61 in 2–4 unit, 260 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 463 units (343 single-family, 36 in 2–4 unit, 84 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 677 units (400 single-family, 51 in 2–4 unit, 226 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 763 units (439 single-family, 112 in 2–4 unit, 212 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 568 units (422 single-family, 92 in 2–4 unit, 54 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 762 units (486 single-family, 152 in 2–4 unit, 124 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 745 units (472 single-family, 116 in 2–4 unit, 157 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 992 units (453 single-family, 180 in 2–4 unit, 359 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,279 units (461 single-family, 208 in 2–4 unit, 610 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,030 units (391 single-family, 236 in 2–4 unit, 403 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,501 units (339 single-family, 150 in 2–4 unit, 1,012 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 954 units (375 single-family, 112 in 2–4 unit, 467 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 946 units (331 single-family, 136 in 2–4 unit, 479 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252023 high · 1,5012010 low · 35706001,2001,8002004: 1,102 units (867 single-family, 144 in 2–4 unit, 91 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 970 units (708 single-family, 144 in 2–4 unit, 118 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 782 units (615 single-family, 81 in 2–4 unit, 86 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 651 units (504 single-family, 63 in 2–4 unit, 84 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 480 units (327 single-family, 92 in 2–4 unit, 61 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 421 units (311 single-family, 84 in 2–4 unit, 26 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 357 units (292 single-family, 38 in 2–4 unit, 27 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 364 units (245 single-family, 55 in 2–4 unit, 64 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 605 units (301 single-family, 88 in 2–4 unit, 216 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 656 units (335 single-family, 61 in 2–4 unit, 260 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 463 units (343 single-family, 36 in 2–4 unit, 84 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 677 units (400 single-family, 51 in 2–4 unit, 226 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 763 units (439 single-family, 112 in 2–4 unit, 212 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 568 units (422 single-family, 92 in 2–4 unit, 54 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 762 units (486 single-family, 152 in 2–4 unit, 124 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 745 units (472 single-family, 116 in 2–4 unit, 157 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 992 units (453 single-family, 180 in 2–4 unit, 359 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,279 units (461 single-family, 208 in 2–4 unit, 610 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,030 units (391 single-family, 236 in 2–4 unit, 403 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 1,501 units (339 single-family, 150 in 2–4 unit, 1,012 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 954 units (375 single-family, 112 in 2–4 unit, 467 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 946 units (331 single-family, 136 in 2–4 unit, 479 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252023 high · 1,501

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 17 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Eau Claire, with 2,882 units or 50% of the total, followed by Chippewa County Part (unincorporated) with 1,015. Among the three largest, Eau Claire put 76% of its units in five-plus buildings, Chippewa County Part (unincorporated) 0%.

  • Eau Claire50% (2,882 units)
  • Chippewa County Part (unincorporated)18% (1,015 units)
  • Altoona12% (686 units)
  • Chippewa Falls8% (455 units)
  • Eau Claire County Part (unincorporated)7.7% (442 units)
  • Seymour town0.8% (45 units)
  • Bloomer0.8% (43 units)
  • Fall Creek village0.6% (32 units)

Share of the units authorized in the metro area, 2021–2025.

Houses or apartments

In Eau Claire, 33% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 52% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Denver (52% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 10%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2023 (1,012), single-family houses in 2004 (867).

2021–202533.2%33%14.7%15%52.0%52%2004–200676.7%77%12.9%13%10.3%10%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202533.2%33%14.7%15%52.0%52%2004–200676.7%77%12.9%10.3%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Relative to population

With 176,647 residents in July 2025, Eau Claire authorized 6.5 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, 1.4 times the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Grand Junction (6.6) and Chico (6.5).

Boom, bust and since

Eau Claire authorized the most units in 2023 (1,501); 2025 reached 63% of that. Its peak year is shared by 8 other metro areas, among them Burlington, NC, Santa Fe, Sherman. Annual permits fell from 1,102 during the mid-2000s boom to 357 in 2010, a drop of 68%. The nearest bust profile in the East North Central states was Lafayette, IN's (68%).

Where in the metro

Eau Claire County accounted for 72% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Chippewa County for 28%.

  • Eau Claire County72% (727 in 2025)
  • Chippewa County28% (219 in 2025)

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI4512.316%
Eau Claire, WI9466.552%
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI6823.749%
Idaho Falls, ID1,54010.427%
Odessa, TX9215.90.6%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Eau Claire beside Muskegon

Every yearly figure behind the chart, split by building size: yearly-units.csv. State view: Wisconsin. Counting rules.