Business. Life. Balance.
City of Eau Claire Economic Development Division

Quality of Life

Eau Claire residents, no matter their background or current life-state, have something in common: high quality of life.

The people are the driving force behind making Eau Claire such an exceptionally wonderful place to live. The strong sense of community is displayed either on a large scale during the many events and local organizations where friendships are both forged and strengthened, or on a much smaller scale found in a public place with the passing smile between two strangers. Furthermore, support and fostering of a creative and diverse community help all residents feel safe and welcome.

The people are also the greatest reason why large companies choose Eau Claire as their location. Employers often comment on the hard-working, knowledgeable, and reliable employees. The nationally ranked education system flourishes under the strong commitment of teachers and administrators who create a strong learning base for all those who pass through their halls. The three institutions of higher education found in the city are also locally and nationally recognized for preparing their students for both a career and life.

Meanwhile, Eau Claire's health care industry is also one of the most prominent of its kind in Wisconsin due to the expertise of those working within and the state of the art technology used. The area is home to four renowned healthcare institutes that provide excellent practices and superior care to every patient.

Compared to that of the nation's average our  low cost of living allows for residents to chose from a variety of affordable housing as well as easily purchase different goods and services through the many different shopping venues offered.

The city's commitment to green technology is just one more reason Eau Claire residents experience a far better lifestyle than most. Our ranking of 15th Best Green City in America by Country Home Magazine in 2007 was due to our numerous parks, scenic bike trails and efficient transit system. Downtown Eau Claire is ranked by Walkerscore.com as a "pedestrian heaven".

The combined factors of a strong community, distinguished industries, low cost of living and abundant green aspects makes Eau Claire an all around outstanding place to live.

We are a smoke-free community!

Eau Claire Awards

  Eau Claire was announced as one of the 2007 100 Best Communities for Young People by the America’s Promise Alliance in partnership with Capital One.  More than 750 communities from across the country entered the 2007 competition. The 100 Best Communities for Young People selects communities that show efforts to fulfill the Five Promises that young people need to succeed – caring adults; safe places; a healthy start; an effective education; and opportunities to help others.  Other selection criteria include community support for youth and graduation rates. Eau Claire was chosen in part due to two outstanding programs that help to ensure young people graduate from high school.  New Beginnings is a program offered through the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where teachers and students volunteer their time to work with young people on a one-to-one basis, and Fresh Start through Western Dairyland, which provides youth the opportunity to work to build houses while also completing classes that lead them to receive a high school equivalency diploma.

 

The City of Eau Claire is proud to announce that the City recently was designated as a "Preserve America" community by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the National Park Service.  Only a few select cities have received this designation, having demonstrated significant efforts and commitment towards historic preservation in their communities and promoting heritage tourism. The Wisconsin Historical Society presented the  "Preserve America" designation to City Council President, Dave Adler on June 7th 2007 in a ceremony at the Donald "Sarge" Boyd Bandshell prior to the Municipal Band Concert.

 

The City of Eau Claire received recognition as the 15th Best Green Place by Country Home Magazine in 2007. The big list of the top 25 best places to live took into account all sorts of criteria-from air and watershed quality, miles of mass transit, and green power to farmers markets, organic producers and groceries, and more.