SperlingViews - Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

Oconomowoc is a great place to live and raise a family. The community is strategically located between Milwaukee and Madison, and is surrounded by many lakes and natrual amenities. The community has great access to health care, educational opportunities, and activities. There are always things to do, whether it is live music at many of the downtown establishments, free concerts and movies in the parks, events & parades downtown, walks around the lake, summer & winter farmers markets, or take in a show at the Oconomowoc Arts Center or attend community theatre at Theater on Main. The Downtown was recently reconstructed and continues to live up to its goal of becoming the "Heart of Lake Country". At the downtown gateway, you are greeted by a sculpture that sybolizes the 5 O's in the City's name, and at night it is illuminated in colors to represent the critical community elements: Lakes, Heritage, People, Vibrancy & Creativity. New businesses and revitalization continues to occur and there are plans to construct a new community center on the shores of Lac La Belle for all residents to enjoy. I highly recommend Oconomowoc, where Life Comes Naturally Here! [read more...]

very forgetable[read more...]

True, winters are TOO LONG in WI, but since I have to live in this state, Oconomowoc (Lake Country in general) is the ONLY place I'd want to live! Besides being a very safe place with great schools, it's got lots of natural beauty and charm; in addition: golf, biking/running paths, multiple coffee shops and restaurants within walking distance, specialty grocery stores (and two really great wine stores that host tastings and classes), multiple gyms, etc. Hwy 94 East takes you right to Miller Park and Milwaukee, and 94 West to Madison. It's really a gem of a location, and worth the 30 minutes commute to work each day. [read more...]

Lots of lakes to fish and boat. Beautiful place.[read more...]

Oconomowoc, “The City of Lakes,” was settled in the 1800s, the city today is a mix of small town charm and 21st century opportunity. While its historic downtown undergoes a revival, Wisconsin’s largest master-planned development is rising on the city’s outskirts. Helping retain and attract businesses and families are municipal services that include modern police and fire departments, low-cost municipally-owned utilities, and some of the state’s lowest tax rates. Oconomowoc offers all of the conveniences and amenities of an urban area in a breathtaking Lake Country setting which is only 40 minutes to downtown Milwaukee and 45 minutes to Madison The area offers its residents a variety of leisure activities as well as historic sites and a quaint downtown. Oconomowoc’s many lakes and rolling woodlands are the setting for four seasons of outdoor recreation including swimming, boating, and fishing in the summer and skating, skiing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling in the winter. The city has several historic buildings in its downtown area and boasts the newly developed award winning Pabst Farms development and convenient shopping. Oconomowoc’s six golf courses offer challenges to players of all abilities. The YMCA located in the new Pabst Farms development provides an array of sports programs and activities for the entire family in its new 115,000-square-foot facility. The area’s real estate market continues to grow. Existing housing offers diversity ranging from historic and exclusive lakefront homes and traditional country farmhouses to modern condominiums and in-town apartments. There’s also plenty of available land on which to locate your dream home, and skilled contractors to build it. The Oconomowoc Area School District serves over 4,100 students throughout the Oconomowoc area. The District has four elementary schools, two new state of the art intermediary schools and one high school. The school District encompasses approximately 120 square miles surrounding the city of Oconomowoc and draws its students from three counties: Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dodge. Whenever you’re in the Oconomowoc area, there’s always something to do! [read more...]

South Eastern Wisconsin has very long, cold winters and short, hot and humid summers.[read more...]

This is an area rich with educational opportunity. Conveniently located halfway between Madison and Milwaukee, residents of Oconomowoc can choose among 15+ technical colleges, colleges, and universities.[read more...]

A small town lifestyle with all the amenities of the city, that's what makes living in Oconomowoc, WI great. Situated on two beautiful lakes, our charming downtown area provides interesting shops, a variety of eating places, recreation, and many accomodations for the arts. Summers are filled with outdoor events and opportunities for family fun. Performing arts venues fill the calendar year round. Our neighborhoods boast well kept homes, shady parks, good schools, and good neighbors. The crime rate is very low, people walk the streets at all hours without fear. Almost anything you need, good medical care, professional services, and retail goods are available in town. You rarely have to drive more than five minutes to get to an appointment. Within a fifteen minute drive are the big box stores and malls with all the offerings, both discount and high end, plus theatres and various entertainment and recreational opportunities. Drive 30 minutes and you are in the city of Milwaukee, where the best of city living is close at hand. Oconomowoc is a celebration of life, season after season, it offers serenity and vitality.[read more...]

Rent is expensive and scare for apartments.[read more...]

This is not a town for singles or people making less than a great salary. It would be ok for a professional couple making great salaries or the independently wealthy who could afford a home on one of the area's several small lakes and those who don't find long commutes an inconvenience. For most cultural events and activities one would have to drive to Waukesha or Milwaukee. There is an annual art show here and a small bandshell in the park downtown by the lake that is nice. There are a couple of small parks but they don't allow dogs. People do walk their dogs around one of the lakes, however. There is a small community center that offers a few programs and there is ice fishing and ice-skating on the lake in the winter. There is a Ben Franklin store that carries craft supplies and a new YMCA that offers fitness. The new Y is nice with several pools for different activities, including water aerobics but the membership fee is pretty expensive. You can sign up for individual classes and get a puch card for less, but they don't tell you that in the tour![read more...]

Rent is very high here, and real estate is priced very high for the value. Look off of the main roads, 16 and 67 to find more affordable rentals.[read more...]

Milwaukee is about 30 miles away and has an increasing level of violence. Oconomowoc recently had a very violent crime this past fall, but otherwise is fairly safe.[read more...]

The town is spread out and there are a variety of churches in Watertown and Waukesha, towns 12-15 miles in opposite directions of Oconomowoc. Delafield is closer -- about 5 miles from one end of Oconomowoc with two mega churches. There are a few traditional churches such as Baptist and Lutheran in town. There are also a couple of small churches in or outside of town, including a Bible church which still uses hymnals and is a very nice traditional style worship without a lot of show. I'm surprised to see church affiliation on this site as high as it is since there is so much profanity in the workplace and people aren't especially friendly here.[read more...]

Oconomowoc is a small town that may be suitable to people who are looking for a town with not a lot going on that is 30-40 minutes away from other small towns and the amenities of a city -- Milwaukee. The cost of real estate and rent is very high, almost double what it is on the other side of the state and north of here. The countryside is nice with a number of small lakes if you can afford to live here. I don't think the city is laid out well, and there is insufficient shopping for basic needs. The grocery stores leave something to be desired - either small and limited in stock or upscale and very expensive. Much of what is around here for shopping is "up scale" and impractical. There are plans to build a mall in the future but it is supposed to be made up of "up scale" shops. There are also plans for a small new rehab hospital and a second small hospital. There is only a K-Mart for basics and it is small and the check out lanes are just wide enough for the carts. The culture here is different that the west side of the state too - less basic courtesy. Dogs are not allowed in the city parks. No arts or theatre here except an annual art show in the park. There is a nice band hell by one of the lakes, but that's about it.[read more...]