Stoughton, WI

70 Apartments for Rent

When you take your coffee break at work, you have Stoughton, WI, to thank. That's right: this community of more than 12,000 claims to be the birthplace of the coffee break -- and holds a festival every August to celebrate that 15-minute pick-me-up.

Stoughton straddles the Yahara River in Dane County, about 20 miles southeast of Madison, the state capital of Wisconsin. A bedroom community, the town was named after its founder, Luke Stoughton, who traveled from Vermont to Wisconsin territory in 1847 -- a year before statehood -- and purchased a parcel of land on the Yahara. Stoughton laid out the plans for a town and opened the community up for new residents. Among the first commercial endeavors in the town was the mill Stoughton built on the riverbank to take advantage of the Yahara's flow. The small town grew, starting after the Civil War in 1865, when a stream of people began moving into Stoughton in the hope of finding work and the city has been bustling ever since.

Moving to Stoughton

While a large majority of the more than 4,000 households in Stoughton are owner-occupied, it's still possible to find rental homes and apartments -- even studio apartments -- in the city. Most of the available homes for rent are single-family house rentals, but there are also several apartments and condos for rent. A few rentals are even all-bills-paid, including utilities and cable, as part of the basic lease. If you're thinking about looking for an apartment here in Stoughton, now is the time to start! Start looking up different rental options on Craigslist, with a real estate agent or by using an apartment locator. Once you have narrowed down your search, it's time to head out and start checking out different places! You're going to want to bring along all the necessary paperwork in order to get the application process rolling -- this includes a copy of your ID, your credit report, bank statements, pay stubs, letter of employment, references and anything else you might need in order to rent an apartment. Bringing your checkbook along is always a good idea, too!

Neighborhoods in Stoughton

The city itself is made up of a handful of historic neighborhoods, as well as a riverfront downtown area in which many of the original buildings can still be found. Here's a little more dirt on the different neighborhoods.

Downtown Stoughton: Downtown Stoughton is a beautiful old historic neighborhood with many pretty, old homes. You won't find too many apartment complexes in this part of town, but you will find the gorgeous Stoughton Opera House, which you might want to visit even if you don't end up living nearby!

East Stoughton: The further east you go, the closer you get to the Matson Airport, which is great for folks who like to travel a lot. There's also a small park here and the Stoughton Kiwani Disk Golf Course on the north side.

West Stoughton: This area is a great bet for anyone looking for affordable rental homes. There are plenty of apartment complexes and small subdivisions all around this area - try looking off of Kings Lynn Road for easy access to nearby towns, too!

Living in Stoughton

City Services

Renters in Stoughton can take advantage of the many services offered by the city, including one of the biggest youth centers in the region, a busy recreation department and a community facility where seniors can gather and participate in scheduled activities. Despite its location in Greater Madison and Dane County, Stoughton maintains its own full-time, professionally-trained police force, as well as a fire department and an emergency medical services team, which are both staffed on an on-call basis.

Business

Today, Stoughton is a vibrant, small city that boasts its own business district and employment base, while offering an easy commute into greater Madison for those who prefer a smaller-town feel but are tied to their jobs in the bigger city. Several companies that do business globally are headquartered in the city, including the eponymous Stoughton Trailers, which is renowned for the quality of the semi-trailers it manufactures, and is one of the community's largest employers. Other companies that call Stoughton their home base are Cummins Filtration, Nelson Global Products and Universal AET. Other manufacturers that are major employers in the city include B and G Foods - which produces Cream of Wheat and Ortega branded products - and Uniroyal, the tire maker.

Recreation

Nightlife in Stoughton is a bit sleepy, so a little creativity or a short drive may be required if you like a vibrant bar or club scene. But if you think of eating as a recreation, there's Koffee Kup, Laz Bistro & Bar, El Rio Grande and Main Street Kitchen waiting for you.

So if you're looking for a pleasant place to rent with an easy commute, Stoughton may just be the town for you.