Wisconsin's Lake Country for commuters to Chicago and Milwaukee
Salem Lakes' biggest annual event is the Kenosha County Fair, which attracts about 60,000 people each August for five days of carnival games, live music and rides. For the rest of the year, the village's nearly 15,000 residents are busy with activities on the area's multiple lakes and trips to the neighboring ski resort. "It's a nice rural place where people can get a big chunk of land," says Realtor Aaron Kohlmeier, owner of Welcome Home Real Estate Group. "There's a bunch of older homes but also newer subdivisions, so there's something for everyone, and certainly there's room for new development."
While the country atmosphere is a major draw, Salem Lakes has few employment options. Located on the north side of the Wisconsin-Illinois border, it's a 45-minute commute to Milwaukee and about 90 minutes from Chicago via Interstate 94. Milwaukee is also home to the closest international airport.
Many Salem Lakes residents enjoy a lake view, but commute to Chicago or Milwaukee for work.
Wisconsin's Salem Lakes offers outlets for hiking, biking, kayaking & other outdoor activities.
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Cottages and lodge-style homes on the lake
"Affordability is a big draw out here; you get more for your money than in the city," Kohlmeier says. "A lot of people move over the border specifically because Wisconsin has lower taxes." The median single-family home price is around $345,000, above the median price in Chicago, Milwaukee, Illinois and Wisconsin, yet below the national median. Prices range from $60,000 for manufactured homes to $3.5 million for a 1920s farmhouse on a hundred-acre plot. Lakefront cottages and lodge-style homes range from roughly $475,000 to $2 million. There are also developments of late-1990s and early-2000s Contemporary styles priced from $430,000 to $600,000. Many of the lakefront homes have boat docks. Due to the relatively low elevation, flood insurance is often necessary.
Many lakefront homes in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin offer boat docks in the backyard.
The median single-family home price is around $345,000 In Salem Lakes, Wisconsin.
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Education at Wilmont Union High and Westosha Central High
Three prekindergarten through eighth-grade schools and two high schools serve students in Salem Lakes. According to Niche, the pre-K through eighth-grade schools have reading and math proficiencies that rank above state averages. Salem Grade School has a B-minus Niche rating, Trevor-Wilmot has a B-plus rating and the Riverview School has an A-minus rating. Students move on to the B-plus-rated Westosha Central High or B-rated Wilmot Union High, the only school not in Salem Lakes. Both high schools' graduation rates are in line with state averages.
Trevor-Wilmot Grade School is a public school in the Salem Lakes area.
Wilmot High School is a public school located in Wilmont Village.
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Fishing on the lakes and skiing at a nearby resort
The area is home to about 10 lakes, which often freeze over in the winter. Several lakefront recreation spots offer a range of amenities, including playgrounds, hiking and mountain biking trails, boat landings, beaches and fishing piers. Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort is on the community's southwest corner.
Salem Lakes residents ice fish & enjoy skiing at nearby resorts during the winter months.
Abundant green-space & proximity to the lakes is a big draw for residents of Salem Lakes, WI.
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Restaurants along Silver Lake
"Sometimes you're a little further from restaurants and some shopping, but they've been doing a good job building those things," Kohlmeier says. Silver Lake is surrounded by local sit-down restaurants, including a diner, a pub that hosts live music events, an Italian spot and several grills serving American-style cuisine. The Village of Paddock Lake has multiple fast-food restaurants, a pharmacy and a grocery store.
Restaurants along Silver Lake include The Village Pub, a comfy spot for food and drinks.
Uncle George's Bar & Grill offers comfort food & happy hours in the Salem Lakes area of WI.
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Country Thunder Music Festival
The neighboring Village of Twin Lakes hosts the Country Thunder Music Festival, which attracts around 30,000 people each summer. In addition to the State Fair, the Kenosha County Fairground is home to a drag racing track that holds events throughout the year.
Important to know
Salem Lakes offers direct access to the Kenosha branch of the Aurora Medical Center. Residents rely on cars because the community is spread across a vast rural landscape. Because crime data for Salem Lakes in part of the Kenosha County Police Department's overall report, there is no data available for crime rates specifically in Salem Lakes.
Written By
William Palicia
Photography Contributed By
Otto Rascon
Video By
Maurice Boone
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Christine Kernes,
an experienced agent in this area.
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.
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On average, homes in Salem Lakes, WI sell after 35 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Salem Lakes, WI over the last 12 months is $342,500, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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