Relocating from TN: We were told that Watertown is a "dump" - is it?? (Milwaukee: rental, high crime) - City-Data Forum

pccasab · 10-23-2010, 04:16 PM

DH has a job opportunity in Oconomowoc, and we have been looking within a 30-mile radius of that locale for rental housing, our choices being somewhat limited due to the fact that we have a large dog (German Shepherd).

The manager at the new job told DH that we should "stay away from Watertown" as it is a "dump." Indeed, if you look at school performance ratings for Watertown on education.com and greatschools.org, they rank lower than many other communities in the same region between Milwaukee and Madison. However, this could be from many factors, I am sure.

Coming from a large metro area in the South (Memphis, Tenn.), we see a stark dichotomy in school quality depending on where one lives. We mainly want our kids in good schools with decent, friendly people. For us, the schools don't have to be full of rich kids nor have a star athletic program; we just want to be around decent people and for our kids to get a quality education from teachers and administrators who care. Our kids are small, so extracurricular activities are not a consideration right now.

So should we still stay away from Watertown if the above is what we are looking for? I am thinking that possibly it is not as bad as it has been made out to be. What about living in the part of Ixonia that is zoned for Watertown schools?

We have visited the general area, by the way, but were short on time and did not visit Watertown itself; wish we had.

Any input would be appreciated.

Milwaukee City · 10-23-2010, 04:56 PM

LOL, not even close!

pccasab · 10-23-2010, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

LOL, not even close!

Thanks for the input.

Specifics.......anyone? What is it like say, compared to Oconomowoc. I have been to Oconomowoc.

Thanks.

Milwaukee City · 10-23-2010, 07:23 PM

Oconomowoc is higher on the prestige list but not by leaps and bounds. Watertown has a large community of people who commute via 16 to Milwaukee area for work and play just much so as the Oconomowoc does. If it wasn't for the lake in Oconomowoc I would say the towns are very similar in looks and landscape. So take out the huge homes in and around the lake and just outside Oconomowoc and you have watertown.

Try a little google streetview and see for yourself

Watertown: watertown wi - Google Maps

Oconomowoc: watertown wi - Google Maps

I will say this thought, given it's locale on water and in Milwaukee's Lake Country and closer to Milwaukee I would rather live in the O'woc than Watertown.

pccasab · 10-23-2010, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

Oconomowoc is higher on the prestige list but not by leaps and bounds. Watertown has a large community of people who commute via 16 to Milwaukee area for work and play just much so as the Oconomowoc does. If it wasn't for the lake in Oconomowoc I would say the towns are very similar in looks and landscape. So take out the huge homes in and around the lake and just outside Oconomowoc and you have watertown.

Try a little google streetview and see for yourself

Watertown: watertown wi - Google Maps

Oconomowoc: watertown wi - Google Maps

I will say this thought, given it's locale on water and in Milwaukee's Lake Country and closer to Milwaukee I would rather live in the O'woc than Watertown.

Thanks again. I am getting more of the picture, thanks. Yes, I am familiar with google streetview and have used it. It's just that looking at houses, it's hard to tell about a place. Please let me explain: Where I live, the word "dump" brings to mind things like: poverty-striken or near-poverty-stricken people, living in an urban-blighted area with failing or near-failing schools and an excess of places such as pawn shops, liquor stores, and payday-loan places. Where I live, you can buy a $200,000+ house and still end up in a neighborhood that "looks" fairly nice, but the high school is seething with near-riots at times and gang infiltration has set into the neighborhoods. You have to pay more and more to keep moving out farther and farther from the "city" to feel reasonably safe and to trust that the school is not going to fail your child. All of this is happening in what used to be the suburbs, by the way. So when I hear "dump" that is what I am thinking: Something that is like that, or becoming that. No stability, getting worse. I can't tell by looking at houses or even stores (eta: on Google street view) what the "atmosphere" is like. In fact, some of the neighborhoods I've seen in Oconomowoc would be "dumps" where I live, whereas in Oconomowoc, they are not. Do you see what I'm asking? Thanks again.

eta: I have a feeling that what I'm describing does not really exist in Wisconsin except in maybe the inner city, but it exists here even in the suburbs, and the small cities and towns in the outlying areas also can have problems, especially with providing a decent education in their public schools.

Milwaukee City · 10-23-2010, 08:52 PM

Trust me even in TN or Collierville Oconomowoc is nor dumpy.

Milwaukee City · 10-23-2010, 08:55 PM

Oconomowoc not dumpy:

800 N Lake Rd, Oconomowoc | Shorewest Realtors

N54W38926 Islandale Dr, Oconomowoc | Shorewest Realtors

1016 N Lake Rd, Oconomowoc | Shorewest Realtors

4408 W Deer Park Rd, Oconomowoc Lake | Shorewest Realtors

212 Lac La Belle Dr, Lac La Belle | Shorewest Realtors

pccasab · 10-23-2010, 09:07 PM

Ummmm......not saying that it is, in any way. I think I didn't state it well the first time, to be understood:

Some of the more affordable places that I saw in Oconomowoc were still very much "nice" neighborhoods there. However, the same type of housing would not be "nice" neighborhoods in Memphis....because in most of the more "affordable" places in Memphis (and Collierville is a suburb of Memphis, BTW), high crime, gangs, etc., have set in. You have to move out to the more pricey areas to escape that, and ten to twenty years later, move out to an even more pricey area to escape it again. "Affordable" (smaller, older homes) = "urban blight has set in" here, whereas it doesn't there (in Oconomowoc). I hope how I am saying it makes sense.

eta: Sorry; I didn't mean to offend. I was in Wisconsin last week and thought it was a beautiful place! Just baffled why someone warned us off of Watertown, and how it would compare to what I would call a "dump" here.

catfeathers · 10-25-2010, 03:03 PM

I am very familiar with Oconomowoc...it has a variety of housing/neighborhoods, but none that would be considered bad...Watertown is a growing 'small town'...and it is nice with a nice downtown and some expanded shopping areas. Ixonia is about 6 miles from Oconomowoc...Watertown is about 25 minutes away. None have urban feel; I always thought the Oconomowoc school district was excellent...I am not familiar with Watertown's schools. However, Hartland and the Dousman/Wales area also have very good schools I believe.
Oconomowoc is a great town with lots to do and nice people.
That's my two cents!

opaa92 · 03-14-2011, 09:45 PM

thank you for your information on TN. we were thinking of moving down there with our kids, probably near the nashville area or memphis, but i think we will stay away from memphis. do you have any thoughts on nashville?
watertown i believe is a quiet town growing more now. i am not familiar with the schools though. sorry.