Q&A: Housing challenges abound in St. Croix County

Like other communities on the Minnesota side of the river, Wisconsin’s St. Croix County is struggling to meet the demand for new housing, even as it deals with rising construction costs and affordability challenges.

A new study, conducted by the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (WCWRPC), finds that St. Croix County needs to add up to 4,600 new housing units by 2050 to accommodate growth.

The Blueprint

• Study shows St. Croix County needs 4,300 to 4,600 new housing units by 2050.
• Rental vacancy fell to 1.4% and homeowner vacancy rate hit zero in 2023.
• Over 36% of renters and 23% of homeowners are cost burdened.
• Rising construction costs and labor shortages hinder affordable housing.

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Leo’s notes: St. Croix County’s housing study makes one thing clear: the gap between housing demand and supply is widening fast. As with many of our communities, the challenge is ensuring that new development prioritizes workforce and attainable housing—so teachers, healthcare staff, and service workers can live in the same communities they support. Another blatant example of the need for solutions in creating workforce housing solutions.