Close to Altoona, southside Eau Claire homes offer seclusion
Otter Creek is a small, quiet community of mid-sized homes adjacent to the winding creek for which it is named. It sits between Iron Brigade Memorial Highway to the north and Prill Road to the south. “Many people consider this area part of Altoona, and depending on your address, you will be outside the city limits of Eau Claire,” says AJ Minaker, a Realtor with Chippewa Real Estate for more than 12 years. “That can mean lower taxes and larger lot sizes, which is definitely attractive to buyers.”
Convenience is another characteristic. Minutes from U.S. Highway 53 and located between Downtown Eau Claire and the city of Altoona, residents are close to two cities' shopping, dining, parks and lakes along with the emerging cultural arts scene near the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Oak Brook is a community of two-story townhomes in Otter Creek.
Otter Creek Art lovers can attend a variety of art events at the Pablo in downtown Eau Claire.
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A peaceful setting surrounded by forest land
Wide streets leading to side-by-side homes and driveways mark the neighborhood of 130 homes, though space and density open up closer to Otter Creek, which flows through the neighborhood and forms its eastern edge.
Housing consists of duplexes and single-family homes ranging from 1,300 to about 3,000 square feet. Buyers can find two- and three-bedroom ranch-style homes from about $270,000 to $400,000. Most homes were built around 2000. Neighborhood streets are relatively flat, and residents walk their dogs, bicycle and run for recreation and fitness. Altoona Lake and Lake Altoona Park are about 2 miles north, offering year-round recreation. Duplex units with about 2,400 square feet don't sell often in the neighborhood, but they fit into the same price range.
There are a handfull of two-story homes in Otter Creek.
Ridgeway Dr in Otter Creek has a number of custom homestyles.
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Eau Claire Area School District is the No. 1 district in the county
Eau Claire Area School District serves the neighborhood and is graded B-plus by Niche. B-plus graded Robbins Elementary is about 2 miles west of Otter Creek. South Middle has a B grade from Niche. It is 3 miles west of the neighborhood. Memorial High is graded A and rated the county's No. 1 public high school. The school offers more than 20 athletic teams across three seasons, including football, track and field, baseball and volleyball. Schools in the School District of Altoona may be options for families depending on their address and the needs of their children.
Robbins Elementary School serves grades K-5.
Memorial High School is rated an A according to Niche.
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Eau Claire Transit offers bus service on the west side of Otter Creek
Eau Claire Transit offers bus stops along Gateway Drive and Prill Road and delivers riders to Downtown Eau Claire. While some residents ride bicycles to UW-EC, about a 5-mile ride on streets and bike trails, car travel is essential for daily trips. The neighborhood has no bike lanes; they’ll be found west at Mall Drive and London Road.
Otter Creek is about 100 miles east of Minneapolis and 180 miles north of Madison, the state capital. Interstate 94 connects west to Minneapolis and southeast to Milwaukee. Chippewa Valley Regional Airport is 9 miles north, reachable via U.S. 53 Business.
Otter Creek’s overall CAP Index crime score is 4 (on a scale of 1 to 10), while a score of 4 is the U.S. average. However, it scores a 5 for larceny.
City parks are less than 6 miles from Otter Creek
Even though the neighborhood has no parks inside its boundaries, outdoor recreation is easy to access. Otter Creek Off-Leash Dog Park is a mile south of the neighborhood and offers nine fenced-in acres. Owners must either have an annual dog park license or pay a daily fee, which can be purchased at the park. There’s a separate area for small dogs, water from May through October and walking trails.
Lake Altoona Park offers a beach, a playground, barbeque grills and a large clubhouse for events and parties. There are several public boat landings but wakeboarding on the lake is forbidden. Visitors will also enjoy nature trails, volleyball courts and horseshoes. Burn Boot Camp is on Gateway Drive and offers fitness training with an inspirational vibe.
Otter Creek Off-leash dog park is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Enjoy a picnic by the lake at Lake Altoona County Park.
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National brands are close to home in Otter Creek
South Hastings Way is the main shopping corridor in Otter Creek with Aldi, Target and Menards. Eau Claire Goodwill is one of the largest Goodwill stores in Wisconsin and draws visitors from outside the city. Oak Pointe Plaza is the closest shopping mall to Otter Creek and has ideal stores for new homeowners, including Best Buy, Ashley Homestore and TJ Maxx.
Monk’s Bar & Grill is a Wisconsin burger chain that has thrived since 1947. They put a money-saving spin on their family-friendly reputation with daily features, gameday specials and kids-eat-free holidays. Nearby fast food favorites include Firehouse Subs and Fazoli’s.
Monk's Bar & Grill is just across the highway from Otter Creek.
Otter Creek residents frequently shop for groceries at Aldi Food Market.
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Day trips to Altoona and River Prairie Park
While there are endless ways to enjoy Eau Claire, weekends are a great time to explore nearby towns that add color to west Wisconsin. Lakefront Altoona has about 8,500 residents and is less than 4 miles north. River Prairie Park’s hiking trails wind through eagle habitats and command peaceful views of Lake Altoona. Attendance is understandably high for fall’s River Prairie Ginormous Pumpkin Festival, where a recent winner topped the scales at 1,935 pounds. Concerts on the Chippewa River’s Summer Concert Series include food trucks and dancing under the bandshell.
There is a concert pavilion at River Prairie Park.
Otter Creek residents take the short drive to Altoona to shop at Rump's Butcher Shoppe.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Kim Bump,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
River Prairie Park
Lake Altoona County Park
Otter Creek Off-Leash Dog Park
LL Phillips County Park
Devney Park
Fairway Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Otter Creek
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Otter Creek, Eau Claire sell after 42 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Otter Creek, Eau Claire over the last 12 months is $403,625, up 28% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Check out this beautiful apartment building in Eau Claire, WI! This pet-friendly unit features a convenient washer and dryer, as well as a parking garage for your vehicle. Enjoy the ease of one-story living with a balcony. Located across from Target, this newer construction apartment offers a secure building with internet and basic cable included Stay active in our fitness room with a sauna for
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Kim Bump,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
435
Median Age
38
Population under 18
18.4%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
27.4%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$57,045
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$83,343
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.6%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
43.7%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
15.2%
% Population in Labor Force
70.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
33''
Average Winter Low Temperature
6°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
48''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
47/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
39/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
