Deerfield offers farm community miles from Madison
Deerfield, Wisconsin, got its name simply from the many deer in the area. Deerfield is one of the many villages and towns in the rural region outside of Madison. The village has many homes, a small industrial neighborhood and a historic downtown with restaurants and bars. The town area around the village is mainly farmland growing crops like corn, soybeans and alfalfa hay. Rural attractions include a horse show venue and Schuster’s Farm’s seasonal corn maze and pumpkin patch. “I would say it’s more of an agriculturally centered community. It’s basically all crop and farmland pretty much all around it,” says Michael Schuster, an associate broker with Re/Max Preferred. “And then you also have a bit of a bedroom community because it’s straight east of Madison on the highway.”
Deerfield has starter homes and larger, more upscale options
Homes in Deerfield are located along straight and winding roads. Some roads have no sidewalks, while others come with narrow walking paths. In some parts of the village, groups of mature trees surround the homes. Lots here also allow some residents to have backyard play equipment and above ground pools. Houses include bi-level, ranch-style and Colonial Revival homes. There are also Craftsman, gablefront and modern traditional homes. The farmland area around the village has upscale homes on multi-acre lots. “You can find some starter houses, but you can also find some newer, bigger homes on the more rural lots,” Schuster says. Homes in the village mostly go from about $220,000 to $540,000. Homes in the rural areas run between $620,000 and $860,000.
Downtown Deerfield has cafe, bars and empanadas shop
Several local restaurants and shops are in Deerfield’s historic downtown. This area has vintage stone and brick buildings, and some of the architecture reflects the village’s European heritage. Downtown staples include Deerfield Coffeehouse, where doughnuts, waffles and breakfast wraps are a few choices. The cafe also has nature-themed art on its walls and a children’s corner with books. Deerfield Grille is one of a few bars, while Bonne! Empanadas adds diversity to the dining options. Bonne! Empanadas makes the popular Hispanic pastry with some French and Argentine flair. Restaurants outside of downtown include Pickle Tree, popular for its pizzas and fish fries. Located 5 miles away in Cambridge, Piggly Wiggly is the nearest chain grocery store.
Area offers parks, regional trail and Goose Lake Wildlife Area
Deerfield Firemen’s Park is located in the heart of the village and has baseball and softball fields. In nearby Community Park, amenities include more baseball fields, a disc golf course and basketball and pickleball courts. Deerfield’s other neighborhood parks include Dream Park, where several homes surround a castle-style playground. Savannah Park has another playground and a small tropical-themed splash pad. Deerfield is one of the stops along Glacial Drumlin State Trail, a 52-mile path that reaches the greater Milwaukee area. The trail passes through woods in Deerfield that allow for shaded bicycle rides, jogs and walks. The village is also less than 5 miles from the roughly Goose Lake Wildlife Area. The 2,300-acre site’s diverse habitats draw hikers, hunters, snowmobilers and cross-country skiers. Deer, pheasants and turkeys make up some of the wildlife.
Deerfield school district serves community and has strong sports
Deerfield Community School District serves 700 students and gets a B-minus grade from Niche. Deerfield Elementary School receives a B, while Deerfield Middle and Deerfield High get C-plus grades. The high school’s recent successes included its girls basketball squad reaching a regional title game in 2025 and girls track winning its first state title in 2024.
Deerfield hosts Liberty Fest and horse shows
Annual events include Liberty Fest, which occurs in June at Firemen’s Park. The festivity offers bingo games, bounce houses for children and homemade foods. Live bands also play throughout the afternoon. The Showtime Arena is another local destination. The venue has about 25 to 30 weekends of shows annually. Horse events include judged pleasure shows, team roping and barrel racing. “We’re kind of the barrel racing capital in Wisconsin,” says Pam Bound, Showtime Arena's owner.
I-94 and U.S. 18 connect Deerfield to Madison
Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 18 pass through the rural town area and go toward Madison, 20 miles west. The state capital is home to Dane County Regional Airport and institutions like UW Health’s University Hospital. “It’s far enough away from Madison but close enough to Madison,” Bound says. “You know Madison is a short distance away, but you don’t get all the city hoopla and drama Madison offers.”
Winters bring snowfall and frigid temperatures
Winters here bring frigid temperatures and snowfall. The area typically receives 45 inches of snow annually and averages a winter low of 12 degrees.
