Poynette offers quiet living within commuting distance of Madison
In the Village of Poynette, what is nearby is as important as what is in the community itself. "A lot of what draws people to Poynette has to do with proximity to Madison ," says Sean Sweeney, a Realtor with First Weber Realtors with 10 years of local experience. "They can live in that area, have a lower price point for homes and be part of a smaller community but still be able to work in the city." The population had been quickly growing for decades, and though expansion and neighborhood developments have slowed, the area still sees new residents seeking a quiet lifestyle within a reasonable drive of where they work. However, living in Poynette is not entirely based on a desire to be close to Madison; The little community has well-rated schools, well-kept parks and easy access to everyday necessities.
Historic charm and newer styles mix across diverse neighborhoods
Poynette has housing styles from many decades, offering more variety than some suburbs close to Madison. "In general, the housing in Portage is a little more dated. It's an older community," Sweeney says. "Most homes on the outskirts of Madison are less than 20 years old." Streets near the village's center have Cape Cods, early 1900s cottages and bungalows that sell for $220,000 to $300,000. Subdivisions from the 1960s to 1990s have ranch-style and split-level homes. Neighborhoods from the past few decades feature New Traditional homes, Colonial Revivals and modern renditions of midcentury modern homes. The styles from 1960 and later usually range between $320,000 and $565,000.
Local students attend well-rated schools with varied activities
Poynette School District teaches about 1,000 kids, with children beginning their education at Poynette Elementary School, rated B by Niche. "It's a cute little town with a decent school district, and your kids don’t have to bus too terribly far," Sweeney says. Poynette Middle School and Poynette High School both earn an A-minus. The high school has activities and clubs for a wide range of interests, including archery club, international club, math team and photo club. Sports are competitive, and the high school's softball team won the state championship for their division in 2025. Wisconsin's Public School Open Enrollment program allows students to attend school outside their zoned district.
Parks and nearby lakes offer space to play sports, garden and boat
Small neighborhood parks are around the community, and the largest green space is Paquette Park. Residents can play baseball, climb on the playground and ice skate there in winter. Locals with a green thumb claim a plot in the Rowan Creek Community Garden across the street at Veterans Memorial Park. Poynette is a short drive from the Wisconsin River and Lake Wisconsin , which has waterside parks and public boat launches. "There are a lot of people who are out on Lake Wisconsin each weekend boating, fishing and swimming," Sweeney says.
Residents head to Portage or Madison for retail and fine dining
Shopping and dining are limited, with just a few restaurants, bars and one coffee shop. Cafe Slovenka sells coffee and pastries year-round and opens a walk-up ice cream window during the warmer months. Residents can grocery shop at Main Street Piggly Wiggly, and nearby Portage has more extensive retail and grocery options. "They've got everything you would need in Portage," Sweeney says. "They've got Festival Foods, Aldi, Walmart and Tractor Supply Co." For fine dining, more department stores and shopping malls, locals head to the suburbs of Madison, about 20 miles south.
Nearby highways make for a straightforward commute to Madison
Poynette has no public transportation, so residents rely on their cars to run errands and commute. Downtown Madison is about 25 miles south via U.S. Route 51 or Interstate 90. Madison's Dane County Regional Airport has domestic flights, and the nearest hospital is Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital in Portage. From November through March, the city has alternate-side street parking so that roads are clear for cleaning and snowplowing.
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Written By
Heather Haggerty
