A small city tucked amongst the bluffs by the Mississippi River
Great bluffs rear up in the Coulee Region of western Wisconsin, part of the Driftless Area, an unusual landscape untouched by the ancient glaciers that covered much of the state. The Mississippi River runs wide along the Wisconsin-Minnesota border, and valleys with high, steep walls dot the landscape. Tucked inland from the river north of La Crosse, Holmen, Wisconsin, is a town of about 11,000 people, known for outdoor recreation and events like its annual Kornfest. “It’s got a small-town feel,” says Dawn Levandoski, a resident and Realtor with Re/Max Results. “And a really good school system. People also like being close to La Crosse, which is the biggest city in the region.”
Holmen, Wisconsin is located along the Mississippi near La Crosse.
Families enjoy the playground at Deer Wood Park.
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New construction and customization driving prices
Holmen has a median single-family home price of $435,000, a little higher than the national median, and higher than the median price in La Crosse, which is about $255,000. “The real reason that the pricing is a little higher is that we’ve had a lot of new construction over the last five years,” Levandoski says. “We have several subdivisions in the northern part of town near the new elementary school. We are seeing growth because we have the land for it.”
The new builds allow homeowners to customize their houses. “They can make choices on interior design, which is appealing,” Levandoski says. “And we have good builders in the area, so you’re getting good quality construction.”
Custom homes make up a large portion of the housing just outside Holmen.
Rows of new homes are filling out the perimeter of Holmen.
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Easy access to La Crosse and beyond
La Crosse is about 13 miles south on U.S. Highway 53, and many people in Holmen commute there. “Our village administrator is also working to develop more business areas in Holmen itself,” Levandoski says. Retail and healthcare are the largest sources of employment within Holmen.
Highway 53 also runs north to Eau Claire. Interstate 90 runs through La Crosse, connecting to Madison to the east and Rochester, Minnesota, to the west. The La Crosse Regional Airport has daily flights to Chicago and Minneapolis, which both have a bounty of flights to locations across the globe. Mayo Clinic and Gundersen Lutheran both have hospitals in La Crosse.
Wisconsin’s 'most scenic view' at Grandad Bluff
Holmen residents have the Mississippi River and the Coulee Region’s bluffs in their backyard. “We have a lot of really good hiking trails,” Levandoski says. “Plus, we have the water for boating, fishing and rec sports.” Grandad Bluff is about 14 miles south and was voted Wisconsin’s most scenic view by readers of Wisconsin Trails magazine. Several state nature preserves dot the surrounding area, including New Amsterdam Grasslands and Holland Sand Prairie. Holmen has 14 parks and an aquatic center with water slides for hot summer days. The Halfway Creek Bike Trail connects to the Great River Bike Trail, enabling cyclists to explore far and wide. “The bike trail is really accessible,” Levandoski says.
Grandad Bluff is the namesake of Grandad Park.
Halfway Creek Park is the start of the Halfway Creek Bike Trail.
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Highly ranked public schools and a bevy of colleges in nearby La Crosse
The School District of Holmen earns a B-plus from Niche. “I think we have kind of a young community because of the school district,” Levandoski says. “A lot of families.” Post-secondary education is available at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University and Western Technical College, all of which have campuses in La Crosse.
Holmen High School has a 14 to 1 student-teacher ratio.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a short drive from Holmen.
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Kornfest brings the community out to celebrate each August
Holmen’s Kornfest is an August tradition now in its 55th year. “If you are a Holmen native like I am, Kornfest is a pretty big deal,” Levandoski says. “It’s a fun community event. It starts with a parade, there’s a carnival for the kids, we have chicken and corn to eat, and bands and beer tents in the evening.” Residents can also pop down to La Crosse for the Midwest’s longest-running Oktoberfest.
Prime cuts at Holmen Locker and Meat Market
While Holmen residents might need to head to La Crosse for greater variety, there are several favorite local spots. “We have lot of coffee shops for a little town,” Levandoski says. “The Grind is a great mom and pop café.” Holmen Locker & Meat Market is a small butcher shop with local products. Features is a popular bar and grill. Hacienda Vieja serves Mexican fare. Festival Foods and Kwik Trip have groceries and essentials.
Hacienda Vieja serves the finest Mexican food in Holmen.
The Holmen Meat Locker is a local favorite offering meats, ice cream, wine, gifts, and legendary jerky.
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Important to know
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, Holmen’s counts of property crimes have declined steadily from a high in 2017. Violent crime counts rose slightly from 2017 to 2021 and have fallen since.
Holmen residents should expect cold, snowy winters and warm summers. Wisconsin residents like to joke about the mosquito being the state bird, so folks may want to keep the bug spray handy during warm weather.
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