A small Steven's Point community
The Stevens Point suburb of Whiting is a distinctly agricultural area, bordered by corn fields and dairy farms, that is going through a growth spurt thanks to an arts-oriented downtown revitalization. Officials say the aim is to update Main Street and create new opportunities while maintaining characteristics that have historically defined Whiting. “Agriculture is a major industry here today, but we’re aiming to grow out our Arts District so it will be bigger than our farming industry,” says lifelong resident Nate Olson, Realtor with NextHome Priority. Major employers here include Century Insurance and Delta Dental, both of which draw commuters from throughout Portage County.
Ranch-style homes near the pond anchor housing prices
Homes in Whiting line the tidy grids west of Water Street, where single-story ranch-style homes share the block with swaths of undeveloped property waiting for builders. Half- to two-acre parcels, especially those touching McDill Pond, command the village’s top dollar, while standard lots keep entry-level ranch-style homes on the lower end. The median sale price is about $335,000. Upgraded waterfront properties often push well beyond the mid-$500,000s.
Shared schools take kids from kindergarten to flight training
Students can start at McKinley Center for kindergarten through 5th grade, which earns a B-minus from Niche, then continue to the B-rated Benjamin Franklin Junior High. Steven’s Point Senior High receives a B-plus rating and offers a career and technical education (CTE) department. Students have access to aviation introductory courses, flight training and engineering classes.
Trails, pond and park power outdoor life
The 6-acre Godfrey and Maybelle Erickson Natural Area hugs the north shore of McDill Pond, where kayakers glide past cattails, anglers reel in bluegill and ospreys patrol the treeline. Its shoreline boardwalk links to the one-mile Whiting Crossing Trail — part of the 27-mile Green Circle system — so walkers, cyclists and winter snowshoers can continue to Schmeeckle Reserve without crossing a busy road. Lower Whiting Park on the south bank supplies a sand volleyball court, two playgrounds, reservable picnic shelters and a public boat ramp wide enough for small fishing rigs. Summer Fridays bring free concerts to the park’s gazebo, and every January an ice-fishing derby turns the frozen pond into an all-ages tournament complete with chili cook-off and bonfire.
Post road satisfies every appetite and errand
Post Road (Business 51) packs almost everything Whiting residents need into a two-mile stretch: pho and bánh mì at Point Market Vietnamese Restaurant, burgers and live-music nights at Rookies Sports Pub, and quick coffee runs to a drive-through Dunkin’ next door. A Metro Market, Goodwill and several convenience marts fill day-to-day gaps, while Crossroad Commons in neighboring Plover adds Target, TJ Maxx and big-box home stores. When locals crave a night out, they head to downtown Stevens Point for craft pours at Point Brewery, wood-fired pizza at Grazies and first-run movies at Rogers Cinema 7. More fun awaits in the waterfront district’s galleries and cafés.
Highways, buses and a regional airport keep drives short
U.S. 51 and Interstate 39 skirt the west edge, putting Madison less than a two-hour drive away. Stevens Point Transit runs two bus routes into Whiting, and residents average a 14-minute commute. Commercial flights leave from Central Wisconsin Airport, about 25 miles north.
