Oconomowoc, WI

10 Apartments for Rent

Oconomowoc, named for the Potawatomi word for waterfall.

Only in Wisconsin would a town of 13,000 be called a city, but that's how they classify Oconomowoc. It's basically a Mayberry in the Midwest, with a really hard to say name. People come here for the peaceful, quiet, rural life, or to raise their families. In terms of man-made stuff there's not much to do besides schools, a library, some shopping and a few restaurants, but if you like to take advantage of the splendor of the outdoors, it's a great place to settle down and explore the beauty of Wisconsin Lakes and Forests. Also, it's just a hop skip and a jump away from both Madison and Lake Michigan -- so there's always something to do nearby if you get too bored.

Moving to Oconomowoc

If you like the quiet kind of life, Oconomowoc offers it to you in spades, with a mix of family houses and apartment complexes with one to two bedrooms for rent. They also offer prices that, while high for Wisconsin, are a bit below average for America as a whole. This actually makes Oconomowoc a popular place to live, who doesn't like a deal?

When to Start House Hunting Because it's a small town, you don't have to spend ages searching for an apartment, and even though the various one bedroom apartments and three bedroom homes are in demand, you don't need to race against time to get your dream home. With only four neighborhoods to search, you can spend a week finding a place that's right for you.

There are four neighborhoods in Oconomowoc, and they all offer a mix of low rise apartments, row houses and homes. But they aren't exactly identical.

Summit Ave & Old Tower Rd: Full of college students who commute to nearby Madison, Wisconsin. It's the most expensive place to rent in town, but still cheaper than Madison. If you want to re-live your golden years as a co-ed than this might be your choice ‘hood. $$$$$

Allen Rd: This neighborhood is a retirement paradise. If you hate the heat of Florida and are ready to call it quits, apparently this is the place for you. You can be maverick for the seniors of this country. $$$

Monterey: If you have a family and want to rent a home, this is the place. There are more single family homes in this neighborhood than most of the US, and the child poverty rate is non-existent. It's dull, but it's a nice dull. $$

City Center: Since it's not really a city, we'll call this the center of the community. And if you like art, most residents of this neighborhood say they prefer a night at the opera and a day at the art gallery to actually getting their hands dirty. If you like coffee and Beethoven, you'll like living here. $$$$

Things to Do in Oconomowoc

Besides trying to learn how to spell the town's name, there are some things you can do in town. With the residents obsession with art, there are several galleries and a theater. If you're a gourmand, there are several restaurants locals tout -- like Brennans Market, which boasts its wide variety of cheese.

If that doesn't float your boat, you can spend a day fishing at the numerous lakes nearby and camping Lac la Belle. Or hop in your car and drive to Madison to experience what a "real" city is, but that's more for the eye of the beholder.