Don’t Get a Big Head About It, But Eau Claire is One of America’s Most Livable Cities
E.C. is No. 3 on new list, but still ranks poorly against peers in income, poverty
Tom Giffey, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
As humble Midwestern folks, it’s tempting for those of us in Eau Claire to brush aside accolades about our fair city: “Oh, gosh, we wouldn’t want you to make a fuss!” we might say when we find ourselves on a national list of best places to live, our cheeks reddening slightly from the attention.
That’s just what happened earlier this month when financial news website SmartAsset published its updated list of “Most Livable Small Cities in the U.S.,” which ranked 281 cities of between 65,000 and 100,000 people on a handful of “livability” factors: housing costs, household income, poverty rate, unemployment rate, percentage of residents with health insurance, average commute time, and proportions of businesses in arts/entertainment/recreation, food service, and healthcare.
After crunching the numbers, Eau Claire landed at No. 3, sitting near the head of a list dominated by Upper Midwest communities:
1. Troy, Michigan
2. Rochester Hills, Michigan
3. Eau Claire, Wisconsin
4. Franklin, Tennessee
5. Redmond, Washington
6. Appleton, Wisconsin
7. Apex (town), North Carolina
8. Plymouth, Minnesota
9. Livonia, Michigan
10. Oshkosh, WisconsinSource: SmartAsset.com
“Small cities may offer cost benefits for residents looking to stretch their income while enjoying a comfortable – and more spacious – lifestyle,” SmartAsset noted. “While livability is a subjective concept that may take on different definitions for different people, some elements of a community can come close to being universally beneficial. Housing affordability, the spread of business offerings, financial standing and unemployment levels, average commute times and healthcare coverage can all affect the well-being and comfort of the community as a whole.”
According to SmartAsset’s rankings, Eau Claire stood out even among its top-tier peers for its short commute times (15.9 minutes), low housing costs (median monthly cost of $1,004), and high concentration of businesses in the arts/entertainment/recreation, healthcare, and food service sectors. On the flip side, the poverty rate (14.8%) was higher than most other cities in the top 20, while the median household income was the lowest of the bunch ($57,289 compared with $109,444 in No. 1 Troy, Michigan).
In other words, maybe that Midwestern instinct for humility can inspire us to address some of those shortcomings – even as we take just a smidgen of pride in earning the bronze medal on this particular list.
Check out the full list at SmartAsset.com.
