10 Best Independent Living Communities in Eau Claire, WI

 

Learn More About Independent Living in Eau Claire, WI

 

Old-fashioned, small-town charm is alive and well in Eau Claire, where the Chippewa River winds through west-central Wisconsin and creates oxbow lakes with plenty of chances to stay active outdoors. Between fishing, kayaking, lakeside hiking, and downtown saloons and antique shops, Eau Claire proves you can enjoy the quiet life while never getting bored.

Independent living communities — also known simply as retirement communities — in Eau Claire are geared towards seniors who are able to live on their own, without daily assistance, and prefer to live among people their age. This usually means residents are self-sufficient and do not require hands-on care. Think of Eau Claire retirement communities as age-restricted (typically 55+) complexes, which provide organized activities, meal services, and transportation.

Cost of Independent Living in Eau Claire, WI

The median monthly cost of independent living is about $2,900 in Eau Claire and $2,400 in the state of Wisconsin.

 

Learn More About Eau Claire, WI

 

Cost of Living

 

The total household expenses associated with living in Eau Claire are rated 17 points below the national average. Grocery and other essential costs are also rated significantly below the average.

Index Scores

All index scores are based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates that the cost is twice as expensive as the national average, while a score of 50 indicates that the cost is half as expensive.

Household Expenses	Health Care	Insurance	Entertainment	Grocery	Clothing
83	83	77	88	81	81

 

Income and Housing

Median income age 45-64	Median income age 65+	Median household income	Average individual income	Median employee salary	Average property tax	One-bedroom apartment gross rent estimate
$60,936 per year	$36,427 per year	$47,085 per year	$25,475 per year	$44,327 per year	$3,298 per year	$590 per month

 

 

Local Hospitals

 

The top hospitals that service Eau Claire include:

Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire

• Facility type: nonprofit, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 190+
• Specialties: emergency department, ICU, inpatient surgery

HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital

• Facility type: religious, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 190+
• Specialties: emergency department, joint replacement, physical therapy

Marshfield Medical Center – Eau Claire

• Facility type: short-term acute care
• Bed count: 40+
• Specialties: emergency department, inpatient surgery, hemodialysis

 

 

Weather and Climate

 

Like most of Wisconsin, Eau Claire has a warm-summer humid continental climate, which means the city has four distinct seasons with a decent amount of precipitation throughout the year (more snowfall than rainfall). While hot temperatures during summer do occur, extreme lows during winter are much more common. The average humidity level in Eau Claire is 70%, and humidity levels are often highest during December at about 79%.

 

Seasonal Temperatures

January Average	January Maximum	January Minimum
12°F	21°F	3°F

 

July Average	July Maximum	July Minimum
71°F	83°F	60°F

 

Air Quality

• Relative Air Quality Index: 64

This index is based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates twice the presence of air pollutants than the national average, while a score of 50 indicates half the presence.

Precipitation

• Average Annual Precipitation: 32.1″

 

 

Demographics and Values

 

Population Statistics

Median age	Percent of population over 65	Population	Population Density	Average Household Size
33	13.4%	67,911	2,099.5 per square mile	2.4

 

Race & Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaskan Native	Asian	Black	Hispanic or Latino	Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	White (not Hispanic or Latino)
0.6%	5.0%	1.1%	2.4%	0.5%	1.9%	88.9%

These figures were taken from the most recent U.S. Census.

 

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity

These scores were taken from the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

• Non-discrimination laws in Minneapolis: 30/30
• Overall inclusivity: 100/100

 

2016 Presidential Election Results for Eau Claire County

Democratic	Republican	Other
50.4%	43.1%	6.5%

 

 

Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Recreation

 

Some of the most popular museums and historic sites in Eau Claire include:

• Chippewa Valley Museum and Ice Cream Parlor
• Wisconsin Logging Museum — Paul Bunyan Logging Camp
• Children’s Museum of Eau Claire
• Phoenix Park foot bridge
• John S. Owen House

Outdoor attractions in Eau Claire:

• Carson Park (picnics, miniature railroad, trails, museum)
• Halfmoon Lake and Beach
• Owen Park (amphitheater)
• Chippewa River State Trail
• Tower Ridge Recreation Area
• Putnam Park (nature sanctuary)
• Braun’s Bay Pavilion (lakeside activities and fishing)

Eau Claire’s top entertainment destinations and shopping districts are:

• State Theatre
• International Fall Festival
• Farmers Market at Phoenix Park
• Blue Ox Music Festival
• Carson Park (baseball and football stadiums)
• Downtown Eau Claire (restaurants, shops, art galleries)
• Water Street (restaurants and shops)

 

Transportation

Public transportation in Eau Claire is available via Eau Claire Transit, which operates bus routes and other services throughout Eau Claire County. For seniors, Eau Claire Transit offers discounted fares and a paratransit service for door-to-door transportation.