Elkhorn, WI

5 Apartments for Rent

The city of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, was named in 1836 when Colonel Samuel Phoenix spotted a rack of elk antlers in a tree and proclaimed the area "Elk horn."

Elkhorn is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, with a population of 10,084. It's just southwest of Milwaukee and northwest of Chicago, putting it in the perfect location for people who like to be close to city life but not caught right inside of it. It's often called the "Christmas Card Town" because the city places Christmas decor around its center. It's a tradition celebrated by local artists who then turned their watercolor paintings of the event into Christmas cards. The town motto is "Living in Harmony," which refers to its traditional hometown values blended with the community's musical background. The cost of housing here floats just about even with the national median and with any luck you might even save a little money renting an apartment here!

Moving to Elkhorn

If you're looking for housing for rent in Elkhorn, you'll be happy to know just under half of homes here are rented. The area has a fairly high vacancy rate, too, so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding great housing. Whether you're using an apartments locator or just contacting landlords yourself, you'll want to have a clear idea of what it is you're looking for before you start your hunt. Think about whether you would like to live in a single-family house or in one of the larger apartment complexes. Do you like being able to high five your neighbors or do you need a little more space? Are you interested in renting property long term or short term? Do you have any pets? These are all good things to think about as you're narrowing down your search. The better idea you have of exactly what you want from an apartment, the easier it will be for you to find the right one! When you start making appointments with different landlords, be respectful and courteous of their time. It always helps to make a good impression. You also should try to see apartments all over the city if you can -- that way, you can get a feel for the neighborhood at the same time as learning more about what kinds of apartments are available and what the going prices are like.

What you'll need: When you're looking for housing for rent in Elkhorn, you should make sure to be as prepared as possible. It shouldn't take you more than a few weeks to secure a great apartment, but you don't want to take any chances. Treat your apartment hunt like a job search. Gather all the necessary documents beforehand so you are prepared and ready to rent when the time comes. This includes a copy of your ID, your bank statements, credit report, pay stubs, letter of employment and references to give to your landlord to review with your application. He or she needs to see these in order to verify your identity and to make sure you have a steady income and will be able to pay the rent. And don't forget to bring your checkbook! That can be the most important piece of the puzzle.

Neighborhoods

Elkhorn doesn't have too many distinct neighborhoods, as it's such a small town, but it does have a few distinguishable sections. Here's a little more info about each one.

West Elkhorn: This area is pretty rural except for the parts on either side of West Court Street. There you'll find a number of small subdivisions as well as some small parks, like Sunset Park. Route 11 runs right through the center of it and is a main road in and out of town.

Town Center: The town definitely has one commercial hub and that is right around where Route 67 and Route 11 intersect. There are quite a few restaurants in this area, such as the Family Kitchen Restaurant and Elk Restaurant.

East Elkhorn: East Elkhorn is close to I-43, which means it's great for commuters (and people who need to make a quick getaway) that have to get to either Chicago or Milwaukee or the surrounding areas. There are fewer housing options, but you might be able to score one of the rentals in this area.

Living in Elkhorn

Life here is exciting! It may be in a pretty rural setting in the hills and fields of Wisconsin but it's still super close to great cities like Chicago and Milwaukee. Not that you'll want to leave Elkhorn all that often. Residents claim to really love it here and it makes sense why: With a reasonable cost of living, great restaurants and shops, peaceful, tree-lined streets, and friendly neighbors, what's not to love about this place! Take advantage of some of the activities and team sports that are offered in the public parks. It's a great way to get some sunshine and meet some of your new neighbors!