Rapid growth brings subdivisions to once-rural Oconomowoc Town
Oconomowoc Town is transitioning from rural to suburban as the nearby lakes become crowded and more people seek a laid-back lifestyle within a reasonable commute to nearby cities. The area is a more rural counterpart to the City of Oconomowoc, just south. As housing rapidly expands in the city, a similar trend follows in the town, with subdivisions replacing farms, forests and fields. "It's one of the fastest growing and emerging communities in southeastern Wisconsin," says Tony Wendorf, Realtor and team lead of Tony Wendorf & Associates Team of First Weber Realtors – Lake Country. "For a while – specifically, the last decade – Milwaukee has been expanding towards Madison. It's going to be one big super city." The town of Oconomowoc, he explains, is in an ideal location, close to interstates, major Wisconsin cities and lakes for recreation. "There's just tons to do," he says. "Obviously, it's Lake Country – the heart of Lake Country."
There has been a substantial amount of sprawl outside of downtown as Oconomowoc Town has grown.
New Traditional homes built in the 21st century are a popular option in Oconomowoc Town as subdivisions continue to grow in the community.
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New developments replace farmland, and prices climb near the lakes
Oconomowoc Town's northern end is rural, with older homes in small neighborhoods or alone on county roads. The Cape Cods, ranch-style homes and small Colonial Revivals range between $280,000 and $520,000. Some properties are for farming, but Wendorf explains there are fewer farms and many-acre parcels than there used to be. "We're seeing a lot of that land being sold off and developed." The area is more crowded near the lakes, with New Traditional and Modern Craftsman homes that sell for $540,000 to $870,000. Lakeside properties with waterfront views in Oconomowoc and the Lac La Belle and Okauchee Lake communities sell for $1.5 million to $3.8 million. Prices are well above the Milwaukee Metro Area average and not as attainable to first-time buyers, Wendorf explains. "Oconomowoc has become a nice step up from a first home into that next home. It's also a nice area for those who want to step back and downsize." Condos range between $270,000 and $710,000.
Ranch-style homes are among the more affordable options in Oconomowoc Town.
Many homes come with private docks in Oconomowoc Town.
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Highly rated schools have extra enrichment and intervention time
Oconomowoc Area School District has an overall grade of A from Niche. Children can begin learning at Meadow View Elementary School, rated A. The school offers PIE time, which stands for practice, intervention and enrichment. The program allows students more time to learn, meet with teachers and specialists. Nature Hill Intermediate School and Oconomowoc High School both earn an A-minus. Children can apply to attend public schools outside their zoned district through Wisconsin's Open Enrollment Program.
Students in Oconomowoc Town can attend Meadow View Elementary School.
Nature Hill Intermediate School is a great, public school option in Oconomowoc Town.
Students in Oconomowoc Town can attend Oconomowoc High School.
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Easy access to Milwaukee and Madison via prominent thoroughfares
Oconomowoc Town is a midpoint between a few mid-size cities in Wisconsin. Milwaukee is about 30 miles east, and Madison is less than 60 miles west. "It's a bit closer to Milwaukee than Madison, but people work in either," Wendorf says. Smaller cities with some sizeable employers, Waukesha and Watertown, are within 15 miles of home. Wisconsin highways 16 and 67 go through the town, and Interstate 94 is a few miles south. ProHealth Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital is close, and Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is about 40 miles southeast.
Oconomowoc Town is 60 miles from Wisconsin's capitol city, Madison, WI.
Oconomowoc Town is 30 minutes from bustling Milwaukee.
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Community events, kids’ attractions and recreation spots are nearby
Youth soccer leagues play at Ewald Soccer Fields in Monterey Park, and baseball leagues play at Stone Bank Community Park. Oconomowoc Golf Club and the Club at Lac La Belle are public courses nearby, and more green spaces are to the south. Imagination Station at Roosevelt Park is a kids' play area with a splash pad, climbing structures and a castle-like playground. At Fowler Park, residents can play tennis, fish in the lake and enjoy community events, like a summer concert series, Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts and movie nights. Okauchee Lake, Oconomowoc Lake and Lac La Belle offer swimming, boating and fishing.
Oconomowoc Lake is a popular fishing destination in Oconomowoc Town.
Residents can take the kids to play the day away at Imagination Station at Roosevelt Park in Oconomowoc Town.
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Locally owned spots line downtown streets between the lakes
The town has limited amenities, but grocery stores, cafes, plazas and bars are south, in the City of Oconomowoc. "It's a little more rural in the town, but everything is right there in the city. You can move from one into the other easily," Wendorf says. Wisconsin Avenue and Main Street intersect to form the downtown area of locally owned shops and restaurants. "My personal favorite is Lago Su Bella," Wendorf says. The Italian spot overlooks Lac La Belle and serves heaping portions of pasta in an upscale industrial setting. Fast-food chains and national retailers are in small plazas, and the nearest grocery store is Fox Brothers Piggly Wiggly.
Downtown Oconomowoc near, Oconomowoc Town, is a quaint and lively shopping hub.
Residents stop by the Piggly Wiggly in Oconomowoc Town for groceries and more.
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Written By
Heather Haggerty
Photography Contributed By
Hayley McCormick
Video By
Kellan Beaver
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On average, homes in Oconomowoc Town, WI sell after 29 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Oconomowoc Town, WI over the last 12 months is $361,925, down 24% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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