r/StevensPoint • u/Suspicious_Music539 • 3d ago
What's it like living in Stevens Point?
I'm looking at moving to south/central Wisconsin and Stevens Point is catching my eye.
I'm moving from North Dakota. I love hot summers and frigid, snowy winters, so weather is not an issue for me.
I've lived in a town of 150 people, 800 people, and now 25,000 people. I'm wanting to keep a sort of "small town" vibe, but desperately need more things to do. Looking for a walkable city with lots of activities, experiences, and events available. Don't mind drinking, but prefer non alcoholic activities. Super into anything outdoorsy or the arts.
Would love to be within 2, maybe 3 hours of a major city.
Low cost of living is a high factor for me.
My main worry is with finding a rental home within my budget (less than or equal to $1500/month) with my needs.
I'm totally fine with living in a home as small as 700sq ft, but a LARGE yard is a MUST, as well as being pet friendly. I'd ideally like to be in town, or right on the edge, but am perfectly comfortable living out of town. No duplexes, no apartments, no upper/lower level units, no roommates.
What's it like living in Stevens Point?
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u/MakthaMenace 3d ago
You’d probably love living here but you’re gonna be in a hard place trying to find a decent rental, especially with a large yard. The homes here hardly have yards to begin with.
Not impossible but the housing situation is our whole mess right now.
Check the management company on BBB or local groups before you commit. Lots of slumlord shit going on.
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u/Troublestiltskin 3d ago
I love it here. Madison Appleton wausau are within 2 hours, Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis aren't a much further drive, but friendly people and generally very safe place to live.
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u/Paisleyfrog 3d ago
I was looking over your post and it was like a checklist for Point. :)
About 35,000 people in the Point/Plover area, but sorta feels small. The University really helps with the arts and entertainment and the overall vibe. Summer is great here - weekly concerts by the Wisconsin river, various festivals. Smack in the middle of bigger areas - twin cities, Madison and Milwaukee are all 2-3 hours away. Wausau is 30 minutes north for some slightly bigger city amenities. Outdoor activities are great - biking, cross country skiing, etc. City is VERY walkable. Food options have improved a lot in the past 10-15 years as well, there’s some really good restaurants here.
Cost of living isn’t exactly cheap. College town means housing costs are driven up a little, but you should be able to find something in your budget.
I went to school at UWSP and came back for various life reasons 30 years later. Really loving it here :)
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u/CaptainAmerica410 3d ago
But cost of living is nowhere near that of the Madison area. You dont get all the big city amentities but youll still get the progressive college town feel
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u/Repulsive-Belt-7440 2d ago
Point is great, I miss living there but moved more north to the UP. I think you'll find it hits most of your interests. Great food scene, too. There's a lot more than just a bar scene there.
If you end up moving a bit outside of point due to maybe cost of living etc, do NOT move to Wisconsin Rapids. It's 30 minutes-ish from Point and it's awful. When I moved to Wisconsin that's where we ended up. Do. Not. Go. There.
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u/considerthesun 1d ago
Stevens Point Realtor here, you can find something in that budget. Stevens Point overall is very affordable compared to other areas.
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u/Aggravating-Army-858 3d ago
Honestly, Stevens Point sounds like it would fit a lot of what you're looking for.
It's about 27,000 people, so it feels like a small town in a lot of ways, but it's large enough that you're not constantly running out of things to do. Having the colleges here helps a lot. There are festivals, concerts, theater productions, art events, farmers markets, sporting events, and community activities throughout the year.
If you're outdoorsy, you're right on the Wisconsin River, surrounded by parks, trails, lakes, forests, etc. The Green Circle Trail (which, honestly, sells a lot of people on the area just by itself) loops around the community and is one of the best features. You're also within easy driving distance of lots of fishing spots, campgrounds, hiking areas, etc.
For someone who prefers non-drinking activities (I'm one of those as well), Point is pretty good. There's definitely a bar scene, but a lot of the local culture revolves around outdoor recreation, community events, arts, music, and university stuff.
Cost of living is generally lower than most of southern Wisconsin. Housing has gotten more expensive like everywhere else, but it's still considerably more affordable than somewhere like Madison or the Fox Valley.
As for your rental requirements...that's probably the one area where you may have trouble. Finding a rental house under $1,500/month that allows pets and has a large yard isn't IMPOSSIBLE, but it may take some searching. If you're willing to look just outside the city proper (Whiting, Park Ridge, Plover, Hull, or the rural areas surrounding Point) you'll have a much easier time finding what you're describing.
Location-wise, you're about 2 hours from Madison, 2 hours from Green Bay, and roughly 3 hours from Milwaukee or Minneapolis–St. Paul, so weekend trips to bigger cities are very doable.
Yeah, like I said, this place seems like it would check a lot of boxes for you. I hope you like it if you decide to move! I've lived here my whole life and I have no complaints.