ON THE UP AND UP. A construction crane hung above the future site of the Andante apartment building in 2021. Construction around the city has continued at a fast pace in subsequent years.

The City of Eau Claire is experiencing “historic levels of growth and investment,” a recent city report declared, with a record number of housing units beginning construction in 2023. Here’s a look at some of the key numbers:

944

Total number of housing units built in the City of Eau Claire in 2023. According to a recent city report, this is a record, and exceeded the 2022 total of 648 units and the 10-year average of 407 units anually. The city gained about 1,800 residents between 2020 and 2023.

42

Number of those housing units that were single-family homes, or just 4% of the total number of units. That’s down from 75 single-family homes in 2022 and the 10-year average of 74 homes built annually. In addition, 40 two-family homes were built in 2023.

822

The number of housing units built last year in the city that were in multi-family developments, a record high for the city. The figure was 469 units in 2022, while the average over the past decade was 271 units. The average cost per unit was about $158,000.

$393,000

The average cost of a new single-family home built in Eau Claire last year, a record high. The figure has more than doubled since 2014, when it was $176,723. The figure is the construction valuation submitted by the builder, and doesn’t include land, landscaping, etc.

$485 million

The total valuation for all permits granted by the City of Eau Claire in 2023, including commercial, industrial, resident, and other construction. Residential buildings made up 34% of this total, compared with 48% for commercial and 6% for industrial.

Source: 2023 Community Development Map & Report, City of Eau Claire Community Development Department (follow link for PDF)