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Short Profiles of Reader Requested Towns

Many readers ask us to profile towns they like or have heard about to see if they would make a great retirement spot, and we have started this page as a way to address these profile requests.

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Elkhorn, Wisconsin

6-25-2010

Located less than an hour away from Milwaukee and just over an hour’s drive from Chicago, Elkhorn, Wisconsin (population 9,000) feels like the very heart of America’s heartland. A wholesome, conservative, family-oriented small town, rural Elkhorn  is nestled in gentle hills and surrounded by fertile farmland and pretty lakes. 

The cost of living in Elkhorn is roughly 6% less than the national average. The median home price is $172,000, and although home prices have been dropping this past year, prices in Elkhorn have only decreased by 4% - less than the national average.   This low cost of living may also be a factor in the town's growth - nearly 25% in the last 10 years.   Of the population, 18% is age 45 to 64, and 13% is age 65 or better.  The crime rate is well below the national average.

During the Christmas season, Elkhorn turns on the charm, decorating extensively and hosting the “Annual Christmas Card Town Parade.”   During the 1950s, the town's picturesque downtown park was featured in paintings commissioned by the Ford Motor Company, and later these paintings were turned into a series of popular Christmas cards.   Even today Elkhorn is known as the "Christmas Card Town," and thousands of people visit each year to participate in the Yuletide festivities.

There is no shortage of activities in and around Elkhorn.  The highly regarded Elkhorn Antique Flea Market, with more than 500 vendors, is held four times a year.  The Walworth County Fair is one of the country's biggest and best, drawing 100,000 people.   Outdoor summer concerts are held in the unique historic bandshell.   The city’s Parks and Recreation Department offers adult and senior programs for residents and four public golf courses are within a short drive of town. A farmers' market runs throughout the summer, and Oktoberfest is celebrated in the fall.

Within the county, there are 37 lakes, including the popular Lauderdale Lakes and pretty Lake Geneva.  Residents enjoy boating, biking, swimming and fishing in the summer and downhill and cross-country skiing, sledding, skating, ice fishing and snowmobiling in the winter. The nearby Kettle Moraine State forest offers fishing, wetlands, camping and hiking trails.   And while winters are long, there are plenty of indoor activities, too.  More than seventy clubs and organizations for hobbies, community service and special interests are found in Elkhorn, and the historic Matheson Memorial Library has a reading area with a fireplace to encourage visitors to come in on cold, winter days. Library users borrow nearly 100,000 items each year – not bad for a town of 9,000 people.

The full-service Aurora Lakeland Medical Center in Elkhorn was recently named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 50 hospitals nationwide for its geriatric care and digestive disorders care.  It has also earned recognition from the American Heart and Stroke Association for its stroke and heart failure care.

Elkhorn does not have a senior center per se, but the Aging Division of the Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services provides a good selection of services, including nutrition and transportation programs, AARP meetings and social and recreation get-togethers, at various venues around town.

If there is a negative about Elkhorn, it would be the weather. The average January low temperature is 14F and that comes with plenty of snow. Winter temperatures commonly fall below zero. Summers are comfortably warm but humid, with an average high temperature in July of 82F.   Rapid population growth may also pose challenges for the community, and there is no public transportation.  The unemployment rate is higher than the national average.   But for those who can overlook these drawbacks, Elkhorn offers traditional small-town living and a wide range of activities, along with a close proximity to major urban centers for a full range of services.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot? X Yes   X

Winters can be long and cold, and rapid growth may cause future problems, but Elkhorn's small town charm, low crime rate, affordable housing, traditional values, good health care facility and plentiful outdoor recreation make this a spot to consider for retirement.