St. Croix County Housing Needs Survey Results Shared with Public

ST. CROIX COUNTY, Wis. (WLAK / WSCM) – The St. Croix Economic Development Corporation is sharing the results of its recently conducted housing needs survey with residents.

The survey was meant to help county officials identify its current housing needs and potential future challenges in order to guide policy decisions. The West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission first began conducting the survey in 2024 and released the results this month.

Overall, the survey found a strong need for new housing units amid population growth projections, declining vacancy rates, and increasing housing costs. Lack of available housing stock is the most pressing current concern, with rental vacancy rates dropping to 1.4 percent in 2023 and essentially no housing stock vacancies. The survey also found that senior populations have limited options for downsizing as they age, while younger populations are facing affordability issues.

The St. Croix Economic Development Corporation is recommending the creation of up to 4,600 new housing units by 2050 to address both the vacancy rate issue and affordability issue. To reach that goal, the organization recommended the establishment of a County Housing Task Force to identify underutilized sites for redevelopment, leverage available financial tools like Tax Increment Financing, and conduct a housing education campaign for local residents and businesses.

The need for new housing units has grown significantly across the Northwest Wisconsin region. Earlier this month, Washburn County officials released the results of their own housing survey which found the need for new housing units to attract young workers to open jobs. The City of Eau Claire has also struggled with a low vacancy rate, contributing to both rising housing costs and the growing unhoused population.