$473,702Average Value$269Average Price per Sq Ft4Homes For Sale
Recently incorporated village on Lake Winnebago is growing fast
Located just east of Appleton on the north shore of Lake Winnebago, the village of Harrison has grown rapidly. With almost 12,500 residents, its population has more than doubled since 2000. “That community used to be more of a rural setting, and it’s been the changing from farmland to small developments,” says Linda Sanderfoot, a real estate agent and broker associate with Coldwell Bankers. “It’s still growing but in good ways.”
Long known as part of Darboy — many locals still call it that — Harrison was incorporated in 2013. “Harrison doesn’t have a village hall or a downtown area yet,” Sanderfoot says. “But people like the larger lots and newer homes, and they still have easy access to the highways, Kimberly schools and shopping. You’re not even 10 minutes to High Cliff State Park and the public boat landing on Lake Winnebago.”
The village of Harrison has grown fast, just east of Appleton by Lake Winnebago.
Harrison was incorporated in 2013 but is still often called Darboy by many locals.
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Newer builds on large lots lead to a higher median price
Much of the housing here is newer. While the 2008 recession slowed building in the Appleton area, the available land in Darboy still drew development. “Because of the desirability of the school district and the available land, it allowed expansion of subdivisions to continue,” Sanderfoot says. “Those areas became popular because there wasn’t a building freeze there.” Housing is concentrated between Kimberly to the north and Lake Winnebago to the south, and the area to the east is still largely rural. There's still land for sale, brand new homes are going up all the time and existing homes are often recent construction. The median price for a single-family home is about $440,000, higher than the national median. “Multiple bidding is still happening here,” Sanderfoot says. “If you’re a seller, you’ll experience good value.”
Harrison offers many well-kept new brick ranches that are easy to find.
Spacious new homes with yards are drawing more locals to settle in Harrison.
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Agricultural and paper mill traditions mix with a growing healthcare sector
The area is still largely rural and agriculture remains a significant industry. “The big industry in the Fox Cities area as a whole is paper mills, though those have shrunk since the recession,” Sanderfoot says. Healthcare is a growing sector, with Appleton’s two hospitals, Ascension Health’s St. Elizabeth Hospital and the ThedaCare Regional Medical Center, among the area’s large employers.
Appleton is about 6 miles away, and Green Bay is about 30 miles north. Interstate 41, which connects the whole region, is 5 miles north. U.S. Route 10 runs through the village. The Appleton International Airport, which offers flights from five airlines, is about 13 miles west.
Harrison locals find steady work in the Fox Cities’ strong paper mill industry.
ThedaCare is a top employer near Harrison, offering many jobs in health care.
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Kimberly Area School District earns high marks
Five school districts serve different parts of Harrison, though it isn’t an even distribution. “Most people who live there go to Kimberly School District,” Sanderfoot says. The Kimberly Area School District earns an A from Niche. “The school district is amazing,” Sanderfoot says. “It gives the kids a chance to explore lots of different options.” The Appleton, Kaukauna and Hilbert districts earn B-plus grades from Niche. The Stockbridge School District earns a C.
Kimberly Area School District, praised for its quality, offers great education to Harrison students.
Woodland Elementary in Harrison offers kids a range of competitive programs.
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Lake Winnebago gets use all year round
The waterways around the Fox Cities are a big part of the area’s appeal, and residents use them year-round for recreation. “We have boating clubs for sailing, kayaking and canoeing,” Sanderfoot says. “There’s parasailing on the ice. Those things will go up to 75 miles an hour. It’s crazy to watch them.” That ethos is part of the fabric of the area. “I always tell people that if you’re bored in Wisconsin, it’s your own fault,” Sanderfoot says. “Sometimes, the colder the better. Like, let’s get out and do something.” Winter activities include ice-fishing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, which all take place on Lake Winnebago if the ice is thick enough. Other popular recreation spots are the CE Trail and High Cliff State Park, with limestone cliffs, a beach, boat launch and trails.
The CE Trail lets Harrison locals bike with ease, nature views, and well-maintained paths.
Enjoy watching nature at High Cliff State Park near Harrison.
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Oktoberfest in Appleton draws big crowds
Residents can enjoy cultural offerings in Appleton, including events at the Fox River Performing Arts Center and a minor league baseball team, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The city also hosts events. “Oktoberfest in downtown Appleton is super fun,” Sanderfoot says. “It brings about 120,000 people.”
The areas many Packers fans have a short trip to Lambeau Field for home games or to take in the Titletown sights. “It’s only 35 minutes to the stadium,” Sanderfoot says, though traffic gets wild on game days.
Fox River Mall is the largest in Wisconsin
There’s plenty of shopping and dining closer than Green Bay, however. Appleton’s Fox River Mall is the largest in the state and is about 13 miles from Harrison. While Harrison doesn’t have a downtown area, shops and restaurants are along major roads. “County CE and County KK are where everything happens,” Sanderfoot says. “It’s more strip malls instead of a downtown walking area.” For a Wisconsin Friday Fish Fry, Sanderfoot recommends Lake Park Pub and Grill. “It’s a big old bar and people absolutely love the fish,” Sanderfoot says.
Just 20 minutes from Harrison, Fox River Mall is Wisconsin's largest and full of shops.
Lake Park Pub and Grill is a popular bar where Harrison locals love dining and gathering.
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Important to Know
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, violent crime counts in Calumet County, where Harrison is primarily located, reached a high in 2020, fell sharply the next year and have risen very slightly again since. Property crime counts have fallen since 2021.
The Fox River can flood, and did in the summer of 2024. Paper mill smells can be noticeable at times.
Written By
Ty Phelps
Photography Contributed By
Chon Kit Leong
Video By
Matt Ferguson
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GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Harrison, WI sell after 99 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Harrison, WI over the last 12 months is $548,200, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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