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The small towns and villages in Wisconsin are the perfect places to slow down and enjoy life to the fullest. Here, people can focus on family and forget about big city problems while taking in the beautiful views of the great lakes. Visitors can enjoy cool temperatures and relaxing lakefront activities like fishing, kayaking, and boating. For those unable to get out on the water, there are still plenty of activities on land, such as golf, guided tours, theaters, and hiking.

For retirees looking to settle down in one of the countless small towns in Wisconsin, many amenities will make the experience as relaxing and worry-free as possible, such as accessible housing, public transportation, and round-the-clock healthcare facilities. From small-town communities to assisted living apartments, these tight-knit communities are always watching out for each other.

Whether a retiree looking to settle down or a vacationer seeking relaxation, these 8 small towns in Wisconsin are the top communities for those seeking to sit back, relax, and spend time with family.

Waupun

Waupun, Wisconsin (with a population of nearly 11,500) is a small town focusing on health and wellness while providing relaxing activities for people of all ages. Visitors should seek alternative health facilities like Waupun Chiropractic (open 8 am–7 pm most days) to enjoy this small town best by staying healthy and fit. Residents can rest assured with numerous nearby medical facilities like SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital, Avada Audiology & Hearing Care, and New Medical Center, all of which are wheelchair accessible and accept new patients.

Meadow View Heights Park is one of the most scenic areas with beautiful water features outside of the Great Lakes themselves. Visitors can enjoy this park best by traversing the biking and walking trails that follow the South Branch Rock River.

The cost of living in Waupun is 41% lower than the national average while still having plenty of recreational activities and events, such as its booming art culture and featured baseball complex. Retirees who are unable to live alone or want health professionals nearby can join assisted living and retirement communities such as Prairie Ridge Assisted Living, Marvin's Manor, and Gateway Senior Apartments.

Wausau

For retirees who want to stay active and explore, Wausau’s parks and campgrounds offer great walking trails surrounded by natural views and scenery. Residents can stay updated on their health by regularly visiting nearby medical facilities like Wausau Wellness Center (open 9 am to 7 pm on weekdays) and Throm Health and Wellness (open 7 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday). For alternative healthcare, Bautch Chiropractic West on Stewart Ave is open Monday through Friday and is completely wheelchair accessible. 

Visitors will find Sunnyvale County Park, with its various ponds and creeks, a fantastic location for water activities such as canoeing, swimming, wildlife viewing, and fishing. With 300 acres, this park is a well-used and extremely popular park in Wisconsin that every visitor should see.

The cost of living in Wausau is 8% lower than the national average and 25% below the national average for housing costs. Furthermore, this town has some of the best retirement homes with great values, like Mountain Terrace Senior Living, where, for roughly $3,400 a month, retirees can get all the help they need.

Mount Pleasant

On the coast of Lake Michigan and located between the two major cities, Milwaukee and Chicago, Mount Pleasant is a fast-growing village in Wisconsin. Covering 36 square miles of land and acquiring new land all the time, this rural town is full of hiking and walking paths in its robust parks. Ascension Wisconsin Health Center is the closest medical facility to the town center and is open from 7 am to 7 pm. Retirees interested in staying healthy of body and mind can visit East Flows West, for coaching in yoga, meditation, and reiki.

Campus Park, near the center of town, is famous for the Greenwood Family Playground, which was opened in 2018 and was funded by a donation of $98,000 from the Greenwood family. The park has many more activities for all ages, such as a picnic area, pickleball, and tennis courts.

Pleasant Point Senior Living is Mount Pleasant’s most prestigious assisted living community. This retirement community helps residents stay active by allowing them to keep pets such as cats with only a small one-time deposit. Transportation is also provided to all residents on request.

Monroe

The small town of Monroe, with nearly 10,457 residents, features the thriving Behring Senior Center, which hosts regular events like tap dance lessons, bingo, and a book club. Additionally, Monroe boasts both traditional medical facilities, such as the SSM Health Monroe Hospital, and alternative health experts like Dr. Lara Salyer, who teaches a functional holistic approach to daily healthcare.

Monroe is another great town for golfing with its exclusive Monroe Golf Club founded in 1923 and recently opened to the public. This 18-hole course has a par of 70, a 70.2-course rating, and a 126 slope, making it an arduous round of golf only for the most confident of golfers.

Retirees looking to settle down in a community that can help them keep living life to the fullest can check out Azura Memory Care of Monroe, which strives to provide a loving, homelike environment for all its residents. Visitors of all ages should remember to travel to the nearby Monroe Baseball Field to watch local games. 

Onalaska

Onalaska is a small town with a tight-knit community but is also large enough to provide premier public services and healthcare. Franciscan Healthcare is one of these premier healthcare providers part of the greater Mayo Clinic Health System in Onalaska this clinic provides care for the surrounding residents from 7 am to 8 pm daily.

Visitors are often drawn to this scenic town for the sites of the Mississippi River and Onalaska Lake, which can be viewed from all over town. In addition to these ever-present features, Onalaska also has more than 300 acres of parks with trails leading up to high bluffs for even greater views.

Those who see the beauty here and are looking for retirement communities in Onalaska will find several options. But there are few better options than Brookdale Onalaska. This assisted living community offers 24/7 emergency care with a familiar feeling of home. Residents at Brookdale are encouraged to keep pets to stay active and engaged.

Portage

Dedicated to creating a safe and caring community, Portage is at the top of the list for Wisconsin's best small towns for retirement. Residents can enjoy this historical hub year-round, finding national historic sites like the Industrial Waterfront District and Church Hill District. Residents can take advantage of one of Wisconsin’s best hospitals with Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital's full range of medical services, from child birthing to assisted living.

A famous lakeside beach in Wisconsin is Silver Lake Beach, with 2.5 acres of protected parkland. This beach was donated to the City of Portage in 1948 and has been a popular regional stop since known for its fishing opportunities for Northern Pike and LargeMouth Bass.

Lance Gary Brisky at 641 Latton Ln and Acupuncture Agency-Portage at 2910 New Pinery Rd are two excellent local alternative healthcare providers that retirees should consider for long-term wellness. Residents interested in joining a retirement community should check out Hamilton Park Place Assisted Living. This wellness center provides long-term assisted living with catered meals, housekeeping, utilities, and an on-call nurse. 

Reedsburg

The home of many famous national figures such as Agnes Moorehead, Joshua Sanford, Clare A. Briggs, and more, Reedsburg is a historic town great for retirees to explore. The best part about living in Reedsburg is top-notch medical care from facilities like Reedsburg Area Medical Center that offer walk-in and even online care.

Webb Park, on the edge of a small unnamed park fed by Hay Creek, is a popular recreational location because of its wide open mowed fields. Here visitors can find picnic areas, a tennis court, and a swimming pool open to the public. Walking trails are also available to take strolls through the lightly forested area along the pond and creek.

Seniors needing a place to stay are in luck because Park Place Senior Apartments offers high-quality apartments with full balconies and patios for residents to enjoy the cool Wisconsin breeze. In addition, guests can access in-home washers and dryers, plus outside community areas where guests can meet. 

Sturgeon Bay

Fishing capital of small towns in Wisconsin, Sturgeon Bay lives up to its name with dozens of docks and fishing charters; check out Sturgeon Bay Charter Fishing LLC from 9 am to 8 pm daily. On the south side of town, Hatco Medical Clinic is a wheelchair-accessible clinic offering new patient care.

The nature preserve of Crossroads at Big Creek happens to have 200 acres in Sturgeon Bay. Here visitors can get lost in the amazing scenic forests and fields of Wisconsin, with miles of trails for hiking, skiing, and bird watching. People of all ages are encouraged to come learn about nature and environmental stewardship at this center of community and learning.

Cardinal Ridge Residential is an affordable alternative to traditional nursing homes with amenities such as private bathrooms for each room, homestyle meals, included utilities, and daily activities. Seniors staying here will enjoy the vibrant courtyard and the Sturgeon Bay Canal, only a two-minute walk away.

In Conclusion

Wisconsin is full of opportunities for prospective retirees and seniors seeking small-town communities to settle down in. The commonly low cost of living and top-of-the-line health and wellness facilities make Wisconsin one of the best states for retirees. The beautiful great lakes and national parks here capture residents’ attention year-round. For retirees with disabilities, there are nearly endless communities and resources to help keep seniors active and healthy; from alternative healthcare like chiropractors and acupuncturists to assisted living facilities, there are options for everyone.

Visitors and residents alike will also be intrigued by the long histories of the small towns of Wisconsin and the famous people who got their start here. Anyone staying in these small towns in Wisconsin should explore historic sites and learn all they can about these historic communities. Veterans especially will find enduring relics and monuments dedicated to honoring service members.