Rhinelander is a small town of about 8,000 residents in northern Wisconsin. The town’s forests, lakes and extensive trails attract an active populace who likes to spend time outdoors, whether they’re fishing and boating in the summer or snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter. “Make sure you like the outdoors,” says resident Tom Barnett. “You should like doing things in hot weather or cold weather. You don’t want to stay inside all winter.” Those who enjoy being outside will thrive in this community and form strong ties with their neighbors. “We treat everybody like family,” Barnett says. “I moved up here about 15 years ago, and the people here make you feel like you’ve lived here forever, like you’ve always belonged here. It has the feel of a bigger town, but it’s definitely a small town where everybody knows everybody and would give you the shirt off your back if you needed it.”
The distinctive Oneida County Courthouse is the focal point of downtown Rhinelander.
Ice fishing on Bloom Lake is a local favorite Winter activity in Rhinelander.
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Cozy wooded cabins and downtown Victorians
The median home price in Rhinelander is $225,000 or about $180,000 less than the national median. Housing options here range from Victorians and 19th century designs in Rhinelander’s historic downtown to private rustic cabins situated on several acres — often featuring exterior stonework and A-frame ceilings. Buyers looking to build their dream home in the woods can purchase land at rates ranging from $2,000 to $300,000 per acre, depending on the land’s topography and location. The average home value in Rhinelander has steadily risen since 2020.
19th century Victorian design homes are a popular style in historic downtown Rhinelander.
Rustic style homes on acreage can be found on the outskirts of Rhinelander.
The median home price in Rhinelander is $225,000, from comfortable bungalows to ornate Victorians.
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Rhinelander’s endless outdoor recreation and growing art community
Rhinelander offers outdoor activities for all seasons, from fishing, boating and ATVing to ice fishing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. “I do outdoor activities year-round,” Barnett says. “I’ll go from open water fishing into hunting into ice fishing right back into open water fishing again. If you don’t like fishing, our snowmobile trails are fantastic. There’s so much area to explore on snowmobiles in the winter or ATVs during the summer. We have an extensive snowmobile trail map thanks to the local ATV club.” Rhinelander also has several city parks, including Pioneer Park, which features an open-air museum of the town’s history and two golf courses. “Right now, we’re in the process of raising money for a huge skatepark for the kids at one of our parks,” Barnett says, adding that outdoor activities aren’t the only thing to do in Rhinelander. “It’s turning into quite the art community here,” he says. “I own an art studio in town and I’ve noticed an influx of artists moving in these past couple of years. It’s turned into a beautiful and vibrant artistic community.” Downtown Rhineland’s historic Federal Building was purchased by the city and is leased to ArtStart, a volunteer group that uses the space as an art gallery, offering art lessons and hosting live music.
Pioneer Park in Rhinelander offers local families year-round fun such as ice hockey in Winter.
Downtown Rhineland’s historic Federal Building is now the home to the ArtStart gallery.
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Rhinelander School District and Nicolet College
The School District of Rhinelander earns a B-minus grade from Niche and includes four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Rhinelander is also home to two private schools for preschoolers through eighth grade: Nativity of Our Lord School and Zion Lutheran School. It's also home to Nicolet College, a public community college offering one- and two-year degrees.
Local senior students attend Rhinelander High School.
Nicolet College, a public community college in Rhinelander offers one and two-year degrees.
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Local shops in downtown and big-box stores along Lincoln Street
Rhinelander’s shopping and dining are found between its historic downtown, which is home to local restaurants and boutiques, and Lincoln Street, which has a mix of big-box stores like Walmart and The Home Depot. This area also has chain eateries like Taco Bell and Pizza Ranch. “Casa Mexicana and CT’s Deli would be my go-to’s if someone asked me where to eat,” Barnett says. Casa Mexicana is a family-owned Mexican restaurant with a full bar on Lincoln Street. CT’s Deli serves Italian beef sandwiches and paninis in downtown Rhinelander.
CT’s Deli in downtown Rhinelander has been a local favorite for tasty meals for years.
Many popular big-box stores in Rhinelander can be found on Lincoln Street.
Casa Mexicana in Rhinelander is a family-owned Mexican restaurant that offers authentic, tasty dishes.
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Cold winters and ‘gorgeous’ summers in Rhinelander
Rhinelander has a humid continental climate with long, cold winters. “The winters are long up here, but you keep yourself busy, and you kind of get away from that seasonal depression that goes on when you’re in winter for a long time,” Barnett says. “You look around you and see all the beauty, and it sort of takes it away.” He encourages getting outside even in the coldest parts of winter. “You just have to bundle up,” he says. “That’s why us Wisconsin guys have the big, bushy beards.” He describes the summers as gorgeous, saying temperatures mostly stay in the 70s. “It’s a real gentle kind of heat because of the lakes,” he says. Crime statistics for Rhinelander are not readily available.
Local Rhinelander families take advantage of the long winter season with outdoor activities.
Rhinelander is an attractive small town year-round, but shines in winter.
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Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport and Northwoods Transit Connections
Rhinelander is located 55 miles north of Wausau and 131 miles northwest of Green Bay. U.S. Route 8 and Wisconsin 17 and 47 run through the city. When traveling out of town, residents can fly out of the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport, which offers year-round daily service to Minneapolis-St. Paul and seasonal service to Chicago O’Hare. In October 2024, the city of Rhinelander chose not to renew its contract with Rhinelander Public Transit, so it no longer offers transportation services. Northwoods Transit Connections’ Bear Paw Bus Route stops in Rhinelander and connects to Eagle River, Three Lakes, Sugar Camp, Woodruff and St. Germain.
Hodag Heritage Festival and the Oneida County Fair
Each May, Rhinelander hosts the Hodag Heritage Festival, an annual celebration of the mythical creature that put this town on the map. In 1893, a Rhinelander resident reported the sighting of a hodag — an animal described to have the head of a frog, face of an elephant and body of a dinosaur with spikes down its back. The legendary creature even became a part of the Paul Bunyan folklore and has remained a cultural cornerstone for Rhinelander ever since. The community even has an oversized statue of the hodag on display outside of their city's Chamber of Commerce office and multiple smaller statues at various establishments around town. In addition the hodag is also the mascot for the local high school. Another annual event here, is the Oneida County Fair. Held in Pioneer Park, this old-fashioned county fair features live music, amusement park rides, face painting and a petting zoo.
Written By
Ellen Daly
Photography Contributed By
Todd Masinter
Video By
Matt Pangman
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Rhinelander, WI sell after 45 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Rhinelander, WI over the last 12 months is $225,500, down 22% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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