Dousman offers exurban living with easy access to nature and highways
Located south of Waukesha County’s Lake Country, the village of Dousman combines easy access to outdoor activities and state highways with a growing inventory of homes. “A lot of its appeal is its location,” says Jeremy Rynders, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty - Milwaukee Southwest. “It’s a little farther out than Delafield, Oconomowoc and Pewaukee, which are a bit closer to downtown Milwaukee. It’s smaller, quieter and a little more out of the way and remote.” Formerly a railroad town surrounded by dairy farms, this community of fewer than 2,500 residents is primarily residential and serves as an outer-ring exurb of Milwaukee. An abundance of nearby parks and rivers ensures that, while Dousman grows in size and population, it retains its immersion in nature.
New construction is coming to this growing exurb
Dousman’s streets have a strong exurban feel; ranch-style homes sit behind small front gardens and white picket fences, and its quiet residential lanes lack sidewalks. Ranch-style homes built from the 1860s to the 1990s tend to sell for $270,000 to $530,000. Larger New Traditional homes, mostly built from the 2000s to the 2020s, sell for between $540,000 and $700,000. Around a third of Dousman’s properties are multifamily units and another third are rentals, but the single-family housing stock continues to grow as vacant lots are purchased and developed.
Dousman is surrounded by parks, lakes and trails
Situated along the Bark River and just beyond the southwestern corner of Waukesha County’s Lake Country, the community is within quick reach of outdoor adventures. “There are a lot of great trails and hiking and biking opportunities, and the nearby Lapham Peak State Park has a tower that overlooks the treetops,” Rynders says. “There are also a lot of great winter sports like snowmobiling, skiing and, of course, everything that the lakes offer.” The 27-acre Pine Lake, accessible by members of The Pines community, is open for swimming, fishing, nonmotorized boating and ice skating. Many homes here and along Utica Lake have backyard boat launches, making lake recreation a major part of living in Dousman. Boating on the Bark River is made possible by a public access point in neighboring Summit. The 52-mile-long Glacial Drumlin Trail runs through Dousman and follows the path of migratory Ice Age glaciers. Cory Municipal Park has a playground and baseball field open year-round, but the 70-year-old Dousman Derby Days tradition brings new life to the park each July. This festival includes championship frog-jumping, carnival rides, live music and a major parade along Main Street. The park also hosts an occasional vintage car show. The nearby Mill-Rite Raceway invites members of the Badger Kart Club to race on its track or watch organized go-kart races free of charge.
Main Street is home to a small, but diverse retail scene
Dousman has a small, vintage Main Street retail district where boutique stores sit next to mom-and-pop restaurants. The Brick House Mercantile & Artisan Kitchen uses local and seasonal ingredients to make breakfast bagels, pasta salads and Tahitian vanilla brownies, among other diverse dishes. Along Wisconsin Highway 67, the colorful Sunny Side Up Family Restaurant offers both American and Mexican diner fare from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dousman hosts a farmers market Wednesday afternoons from May to October featuring local flowers, baked goods and produce. The nearest grocery stores are 10 minutes away at Wales’ Pick ‘n Save and Oconomowoc’s Metro Market.
A-rated education at Kettle Moraine High School
Students can start their education at Dousman Elementary School, which receives a B-plus from Niche, before attending the A-rated Kettle Moraine Middle School and the A-minus-rated Kettle Moraine High School. Kettle Moraine High, a recipient of a National Blue Ribbon from the Department of Education, allows its students to pursue specialized courses in global interconnections, visual arts and health professions.
Highway access to Milwaukee, and Madison within an hour's journey
Dousman sits at an intersection of highways, connecting it to nearby cities. Wisconsin Highway 67 leads north to Oconomowoc and its ProHealth hospital 8 miles away. Highway 18 brings travelers to Waukesha 14 miles to the east. Intestate 94, accessible via Highway 67, leads to Milwaukee 33 miles to the east and Madison 50 miles to the west.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
