Oconomowoc, WI — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Wisconsin·Oconomowoc

Waukesha County · Milwaukee-Waukesha · population 20,002

Growing fastSmall-town feel
View watchlist →
76
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Oconomowoc stands

At or near all-time high. home values up 6.1% in the last year. population growing 2.4% per year.

Median home $543,954
1-year +6.1%
5-yr CAGR +6.5%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +2.4%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$544k$266k$366k$466k$566k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
15/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
74/100
Strong remote-work fit
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,775/mo$1,628$1,772$1,91620242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent10810010020242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 25.5
Rent

At a 25.5 price-to-rent ratio, renting beats buying in Oconomowoc for most shorter holds. The premium you pay to own would take many years of rent savings to recoup, and that's before maintenance, taxes, and opportunity cost on the down payment.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
79 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
72 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
84 · w16%
Rent YoY
50 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
72 · w10%
Long thesis

Oconomowoc has been growing population at 2.4% per year while home values compounded +6.5% annually. Demand-driven appreciation — the kind that persists as long as people keep showing up, which they currently are.

Short thesis

Oconomowoc's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Oconomowoc

Oconomowoc is a city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, with an estimated population of 20,002. It anchors the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area. The population has grown 2.4% per year on average between 2020 and 2024 — among the faster-growing communities in the state. The median home value in Oconomowoc is $543,954 as of 2026-04, up 6.1% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.5% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Oconomowoc average $1,775 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+0.8%). The composite momentum score is 76 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

Bull case

Trend still working: prices up 6.1% in the last 12 months — buyers are still chasing inventory.
People are voting with their feet: population growing 2.4% per year since 2020 — that’s faster than ~80% of US cities.
Healthy 5-year run: +6.5% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

Bear case

Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Waukesha County right now.

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Waukesha County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Neighborhoods of Oconomowoc

1 tracked · ranked by median home value
1Lake Lac La Belle$427,157+7.7%

Cities like Oconomowoc

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
27° / 11°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
81° / 60°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
188
~52% of year
Annual precip
33″ rain
47″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Moderate
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Low

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Milwaukee-Waukesha area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Oconomowoc listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
73%
Humid climate
Median household income
$72,500
Wisconsin state median
Top industries (state-level)
ManufacturingHealthcareDairy/Food

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

Cities similar to Oconomowoc

Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.

See all Wisconsin cities →    Browse best-of lists →