Lodi offers small town charm and affordable home prices
The main draws to the Columbia County town of Lodi have traditionally centered around its tight-knit community and access to Lake Wisconsin, but locals say the lower housing prices are starting to put this place on a lot of people’s radars. “People are migrating from Madison. It’s getting more popular,” says Tommy Van Ess, a real estate agent with First Weber Realtors who sells throughout the area. Not only do residents find they get more for their money here, they also get a walkable downtown area, countless options for outdoor recreation and regular events that bring everyone together to celebrate.
Ranch-style, Victorians and lakefront homes are common
Most of Lodi is residential, with wide streets. Homes sit on neatly landscaped lawns. Tall, mature trees dot front yards and line backyards. Architectural styles include Cape Cod, New Traditional, split-level and ranch-style, built between 1960 and 2020, and Victorian styles built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Houses in town range from $260,000 to $525,000, with higher-priced homes featuring three or four bedrooms and big lawns. Houses on or near Lake Wisconsin range anywhere from $300,000 to $1.4 million. Higher-priced homes often feature more than 3,000 square feet and backyard water views. “One of the draws [about Lodi] is that you get a little more house here than in Madison,” Van Ess says.
Kids at Lodi High can earn college credit while in school
Kids start school at Lodi Primary, which serves pre-kindergarten through second grade and rates a B-minus on Niche. From there, they head to B-minus-rated Lodi Elementary, B-rated Lodi Middle and B-plus-rated Lodi High. Juniors and seniors at Lodi High can enroll in the Early College STEM Academy, which allows them to take classes full-time at Madison College.
Hiking, golf and year-round fishing are available
Residents stay active outdoors all year long. In the summer, Goeres Park bustles at the pool, baseball diamond, tennis and basketball courts, and playground. Hikers can pick up the Ice Age Trail downtown at the Lodi Segment and walk through town and out into the forest. Golfers tee off at the Lodi Golf Club, a nine-hole layout open to the public. In the winter, Lake Wisconsin freezes and becomes a go-to for ice fishing and its surrounding trails are perfect for snowmobiling.
Downtown Lodi offers shopping and dining
Lodi Sausage Company & Meat Market is a local butcher on Main Street with a full-service counter that processes beef, pork and venison. Its summer sausage is ranked the No. 1 Grand Champion in the Wisconsin Cured Meat Championships. Piggly Wiggly, Dollar General and additional local businesses and services are along Main Street. Local restaurants include Fritz’s on the Lake, a casual spot on Lake Wisconsin that offers a Sunday brunch buffet and water views, and Los Hernandez, a downtown favorite for its authentic Mexican dishes and friendly staff. The closest hospital is Sauk Prairie Healthcare, about 15 miles away.
Susie the Duck Day and other annual events draw crowds
The town’s marquee event is Susie the Duck Day, which residents have been celebrating every August for over 40 years. The most popular activity during the day-long event is the Duck Derby, where about 3,000 tiny, numbered rubber duckies are dumped in Spring Creek and flow to the finish line, with attendees cheering them on. Live music, food trucks and a beer garden are also part of the festivities. The annual Spring Street Market runs from May to October and features vendors selling local produce, dairy products, sweets and handmade items. The Lodi Agricultural Fair started in 1863 and is the town’s oldest event. The multi-day event features animal shows, a rodeo and a pie auction.
Main Street leads to I-90 and other major highways
There is no public transportation in Lodi. Main Street, also called Wisconsin Highway 113, leads to Lake Wisconsin and connects to State Road 60 and Interstate 90.
Cold, snowy winters and mild summers
Winters are generally very cold, with below-freezing temperatures and an average of about 42 inches of snow. In the summer, temperatures are generally in the low-to-mid ‘80s.
