I got a job in Sparta Wisconsin, need advice from locals

[gotsmack]

I just got a job in Sparta Wisconsin. I work in Philly now and am fed up with my work and career growth opportunities so this is a welcome change even though they are not offering the pay or location that I want. This is one of those situations where you have to backtrack because you are at a dead end.

Details:
Age: early 30s
Status: Single
Pay: $50k
Debts: like $128 a month in student loans. Car is paid off.
Other: I am used to life in small city/packed in suburbs of North NJ where everything is walking distance or a 15 minute drive. I also prefer to have something to put away in savings at the end of the month.

I'm only including the money stuff so you can have an idea of what I can afford in rent.

What I need to know:
1a. What town should I live in? I want off street parking at an apartment complex where there are lots of things to do for young people. If I have to drive anywhere I have to mention that I have not parallel parked since my driving exam.

1b. I'm thinking Onalaska or West Salem. Are these places good? Safety is my #1 concern, then it is commute (in terms of plowed highways to get to work not so much time as long as it is under 45 minutes), then it is entertainment.

2. Do I need an engine block heater?

3. Are there any other things I should know about? Like areas to stay away from?


Thanks in advance and Happy New Year.

 

[RossMAN]

While you wait for AT'ers to reply, you may want to check out city-data's Wisconsin forum for a quicker response.

 

[dud]

OP, will you be working out of Ft. McCoy?

 

[masteryoda34]

 

[MetalMat]

 

[thecoolnessrune]

By that far up in Wisconsin you start seeing very sparse population centers (and the whole state of Wisconsin is pretty similar. La Crosse gives you a University town that has more bars and night clubs per block than (almost) anywhere.

Other than that, that whole area is pretty much nothingness as far as things for young people to do.

As a university area, Crime isn't *great* in either area you mentioned, but its not bad either.

West Salem is a really good place in regards to crime. Onalaska is also pretty good (pretty high income area though). Sparta is not a great place as far as crime is concerned. I mean it's not Harlem, (most of Wisconsin is pretty good excepting some parts of Milwaukee), but Sparta itself has a much higher crime index compared to the rest of the area. My fiancee has family in La Crosse that has pretty similar sentiments.

 

[*kjm]

I have a lot of family in that area of the state. Sparta is a small town, 2011 it was under 10,000 and crime is not a problem. As far as a lot to do for someone in their 30’s…. we are talking about the town that celebrates butter fest in the summer. If you love the outdoors though you are in luck because there is great hunting, fishing, bike trails, horse trails, and snowmobiling. Don’t get me wrong it’s a great little town but in no way is it a city.
If you are moving there for sure you may want to look into a place in Sparta for your first year and spend the weekends looking around the area for something you would like.

Edit:
1a. What town should I live in? I want off street parking at an apartment complex where there are lots of things to do for young people. If I have to drive anywhere I have to mention that I have not parallel parked since my driving exam.
All parking would probably be off street..... 99.8% of the time.

2. Do I need an engine block heater?
I've never used the one on my truck.

 

[MedicBob]

When I was out there, it was usually on Fort McCoy. Sparta was Okay and Tomah was the same. Would prefer to live closer to La Cross then either of the town mentioned. I am sure they are fine with the usual small town issues, with summer issues of military folk on the weekends.

 

[silverpig]

I came in here to do something obnoxious, but I can see that ATOT has taken care of things already.

 

[gotsmack]

OP, will you be working out of Ft. McCoy?

Yup.

By that far up in Wisconsin you start seeing very sparse population centers (and the whole state of Wisconsin is pretty similar. La Crosse gives you a University town that has more bars and night clubs per block than (almost) anywhere.

Other than that, that whole area is pretty much nothingness as far as things for young people to do.

As a university area, Crime isn't *great* in either area you mentioned, but its not bad either.

West Salem is a really good place in regards to crime. Onalaska is also pretty good (pretty high income area though). Sparta is not a great place as far as crime is concerned. I mean it's not Harlem, (most of Wisconsin is pretty good excepting some parts of Milwaukee), but Sparta itself has a much higher crime index compared to the rest of the area. My fiancee has family in La Crosse that has pretty similar sentiments.

Yea, I read on old city-data posts that Sparta wasn't that great and they have a meth problem. I also found out that La Crosse is the place to go to for entertainment in that area.

Is traffic and parking in La Crosse bad? If I do live in La Crosse I'll try to find a place on the north eastern side of town so that I won't have to cut through the city to get to work. Is that area safe? I heard that La Crosse has a bunch of bad areas so I though Onalaska would be a safer place to live in.

Is there anything to do in West Salem or is it just residential? I heard Onalaska was seeing a lot of development and lots of new interesting restaurants and bars are opening up there.

I have a lot of family in that area of the state. Sparta is a small town, 2011 it was under 10,000 and crime is not a problem. As far as a lot to do for someone in their 30’s…. we are talking about the town that celebrates butter fest in the summer. If you love the outdoors though you are in luck because there is great hunting, fishing, bike trails, horse trails, and snowmobiling. Don’t get me wrong it’s a great little town but in no way is it a city.
If you are moving there for sure you may want to look into a place in Sparta for your first year and spend the weekends looking around the area for something you would like.

Edit:
1a. What town should I live in? I want off street parking at an apartment complex where there are lots of things to do for young people. If I have to drive anywhere I have to mention that I have not parallel parked since my driving exam.
All parking would probably be off street..... 99.8% of the time.

2. Do I need an engine block heater?
I've never used the one on my truck.

I'm not an out doors person. I am hoping that there will be interesting coffee shops and comedy clubs around.

I heard Sparta isn't that safe so I'm going to try to stay away from there. I'll look into short term sublets while I try to find a place though.

 

[*kjm]

Yup.




I heard Sparta isn't that safe so I'm going to try to stay away from there. I'll look into short term sublets while I try to find a place though.

You will laugh when you get there trust me you could walk down the road at 2AM and feel safe.
Good luck and keep in touch, I’m up there a couple times a year.

 

[tboo]

You will laugh when you get there trust me you could walk down the road at 2AM and feel safe.
Good luck and keep in touch, I’m up there a couple times a year.

This. The whole concept of Sparta not being safe or having bad parts of the city is ludicrous.

 

[dmcowen674]

I'm not an out doors person. I am hoping that there will be interesting coffee shops and comedy clubs around.

I heard Sparta isn't that safe so I'm going to try to stay away from there. I'll look into short term sublets while I try to find a place though.

Good luck on the radical change.

Good for you. Stay safe.

 

[Xonoahbin]

Dude, it's Wisconsin. There are only two or three cities that have basically any crime or safety issues whatsoever. So yeah, Sparta would be safe. Areas to stay away from? Uhm, no, you're in rural Wisconsin. People there are very nice and things are pretty damn peaceful.

La Crosse would be good for entertainment and the like. Fort McCoy has a lot of stuff for being a smaller operation though, so keep an eye out for stuff there (I went to a concert there).

 

[EagleKeeper]

Prepare for a cultural shock.

Social life that revolves around a city does not exist and is not feasible to drive to.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Ready your breakfast and eat hearty, for tonight, you dine in HELL!

 

[ViviTheMage]

every city/township/village has a bar in Wisconsin, that's all I know.

 

[olds]

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Prepare for a cultural shock.

Social life that revolves around a city does not exist and is not feasible to drive to.

La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, and Eau Claire (basically any city with a UW campus) are very city oriented.

 

[jaha2000]

Yup.



Yea, I read on old city-data posts that Sparta wasn't that great and they have a meth problem. I also found out that La Crosse is the place to go to for entertainment in that area.

Is traffic and parking in La Crosse bad? If I do live in La Crosse I'll try to find a place on the north eastern side of town so that I won't have to cut through the city to get to work. Is that area safe? I heard that La Crosse has a bunch of bad areas so I though Onalaska would be a safer place to live in.

Is there anything to do in West Salem or is it just residential? I heard Onalaska was seeing a lot of development and lots of new interesting restaurants and bars are opening up there.



I'm not an out doors person. I am hoping that there will be interesting coffee shops and comedy clubs around.

I heard Sparta isn't that safe so I'm going to try to stay away from there. I'll look into short term sublets while I try to find a place though.

10000 peeps and no university? Probably has a starbucks... maybe....

Its not a city.. You better get used to dinking Fat Tire and Spotted Cow at the local townie bar.... Sounds like my kind of place.

 

[EagleKeeper]

La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, and Eau Claire (basically any city with a UW campus) are very city oriented.

And how far away are they from Sparta?
LC is 20 miles. The others are not feasible for a evening out .

The OP is used to living within sight of the Bell.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

It's examples. If he wants social living, while working in Sparta, he should obviously take up living in La Crosse, it would be the natural choice and an empty, relaxed 20 mile commute to Sparta.

 

[Matthiasa]

every city/township/village has a bar in Wisconsin, that's all I know.

Its a lot more than just one.
Might be one per 100-500 people...

 

[GoPackGo]

I would suggest living in West Salem. It is a half-way point between La Crosse and Sparta. La Crosse has a good restaurant selection for its size. There is a grocery store near the size of Walmart called Woodman's. They carry a great selection of food and their liquor store has some of the best beers made. You are an 1 1/2 hour drive to Wisconsin Dells and 2 hours to Madison. Only 3hrs from Minneapolis.

 

[Pohemi]

Its not a city.. You better get used to dinking Fat Tire and Spotted Cow at the local townie bar.... Sounds like my kind of place.

More like Leinenkugel's and Miller Lite. Look for residence in LC if you hope to have any sort of "culture" near where you live. Otherwise, hope you like rednecks.