Moving to Tomah, Wisconsin 54660
Homes, Schools & Community for Military Families and Everyone Relocating to Tomah | Liz Walker, REMAX RealPros
Updated November 2026
Tomah is a city of 9,570 residents (2020 Census) at the crossroads of west-central Wisconsin, where I-90 and I-94 split, about halfway between the Twin Cities and Milwaukee. It’s one of Wisconsin’s strongest military communities: Fort McCoy is about 10 minutes west, and Camp Williams and Volk Field are about 15 minutes east in Camp Douglas. Tomah also has a VA Medical Center, a full-service hospital, 12 public schools, and the shopping, dining, and services that make it the hub of the region.
Typical Home Value
(Zillow, Aug 2026)
To Fort McCoy
To Camp Williams & Volk Field
Effective Property Tax Rate
(ZIP 54660, median $2,624/yr)
Sources: Zillow Home Value Index (Aug 2026); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023, ZIP 54660.
🎖️ A Military Community
Few small cities in the Midwest are as closely tied to the military as Tomah. Service members, Guard and Reserve members, civilian employees, contractors, and veterans make up a large part of the community, and local schools, businesses, and neighbors are used to welcoming families on orders.
Wisconsin’s only Army installation, about 7 miles west of Tomah on 60,000 acres. The “Total Force Training Center” has trained more than 100,000 service members from all branches nearly every year since 1984.
Fort McCoy →About 15 minutes east in Camp Douglas: Camp Williams (Wisconsin Army National Guard) and Volk Field Air National Guard Base, home of one of only four Air National Guard combat readiness training centers in the country.
Volk Field →Veterans’ healthcare right in Tomah, a major employer and a key resource for retirees and veterans who choose to stay in the area.
Buying a Home on Military Orders
VA loans: Most eligible service members and veterans can buy with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. Veterans with a service-connected disability are generally exempt from the VA funding fee.
Buying before you arrive: Liz can preview homes for you, provide video walk-throughs, and coordinate remote signing, so you can close around your report date.
Plan for your next move: Tomah’s steady rental demand from military and VA personnel means a well-chosen home can become a rental if you receive orders elsewhere.
Schools: Ask about each school’s military family support and the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which eases transfers and graduation requirements.
Wisconsin Property Tax Relief for Veterans
Wisconsin doesn’t offer a property tax exemption for military members. Instead, it offers the Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit, a refundable state income tax credit equal to 100% of the property taxes paid on your principal residence in Wisconsin, including up to one acre of land. There is no income limit and no age requirement.
Who qualifies:
- Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating from the VA, or a 100% rating based on individual unemployability (IU/TDIU)
- The veteran must be a Wisconsin resident now and must have been a Wisconsin resident when entering active duty, or for any consecutive five-year period after entering service
- Unremarried surviving spouses of qualifying veterans, and of service members who died in the line of duty, may also qualify
How it works: The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) certifies your eligibility, and you claim the credit on your Wisconsin income tax return through the Department of Revenue. You must hold the 100% rating for the entire year you claim. Ratings below 100% don’t qualify for a partial credit under current law, although bills to lower the threshold have been introduced in the Legislature.
Active-duty members: If you’re stationed here but keep legal residence in another state under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, that protects your state income tax status, but property taxes on a Wisconsin home still apply. Every Wisconsin homeowner can also claim the lottery and gaming credit on their primary residence.
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs → | Questions about the credit: Wisconsin Department of Revenue, (608) 266-2486
💰 Tomah Housing Market
Tomah’s typical home value of $261,406 is about 23% below Wisconsin’s $339,699 (Zillow, Aug 2026), and Monroe County homes sell quickly, with a median of 51 days on market and an average sale price of 99.9% of list price (Redfin, Jun 2026).
Buyers: Most of Tomah’s newer subdivisions and commercial growth over the past 40 years have been on the north side of the city, while older neighborhoods near downtown offer character homes at lower prices. Get pre-approved early, because good homes go fast.
Sellers: Steady demand from military, VA, and healthcare employees keeps Tomah one of the most active markets in the region. Timing your listing for spring and summer PCS season can bring more buyers.
Renting vs. buying: Average Tomah rents run about $977 for a one-bedroom, $1,146 for a two-bedroom, and $1,530 for a three-bedroom (Rentometer, Nov 2025). With a VA loan and no down payment, a monthly mortgage payment on a starter home is often in the same range.
💼 Jobs & Major Employers
Beyond the military, Tomah is a manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare hub, which makes it easier for military spouses and veterans to find work locally.
Fort McCoy, Volk Field, Camp Williams, and the Tomah VA Medical Center.
Toro (lawn mower factory and distribution center), Cardinal Glass, Mars Petcare, and USEMCO.
A Walmart distribution center and supercenter, plus trucking and freight companies drawn by the I-90/I-94 split.
Tomah Health, Gundersen, Mayo Clinic Health System, and the Tomah Area School District.
Source: City of Tomah Economic Development.
🚆 Getting Around
- Amtrak: Tomah has its own Amtrak station, served twice daily by the Empire Builder and the Borealis, with direct trains to Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis–St. Paul. The station recently received major accessibility upgrades.
- Interstates: I-90 and I-94 split in Tomah, with easy access toward La Crosse, Madison, and the Twin Cities.
- Airports: La Crosse Regional Airport is about 45 minutes away for commercial flights, and Tomah Municipal Airport serves private and corporate aircraft.
🎓 Schools
The Tomah Area School District serves about 3,050 students in 12 schools across Tomah and nearby Oakdale, Camp Douglas, Wyeville, and Warrens.
Enrollment, calendars, and district information
About 880 students in grades 9–12.
About 660 students in grades 6–8.
LaGrange, Lemonweir, and Miller Elementary in the city, plus the Tomah Area Montessori charter school.
Catholic school, 4K–8.
Lutheran school, preK–8.
🏥 Healthcare
Tomah’s full-service community hospital and clinics.
Healthcare for veterans across the region.
Primary and specialty care.
Primary and specialty care.
Books, programs, and community events in a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
📜 Tomah’s History
Robert E. Gillett and his son Robert A. Gillett laid out Tomah in 1855–1856. The city is named for Thomas Carron (1752–1817), a Green Bay trader who joined the Menominee and became known as Chief Tomah, the Menominee pronunciation of his name. Legend held that he had once held a council near the creek here. Tomah incorporated as a city in 1883 and grew as a railroad and farming town at the heart of Wisconsin’s cranberry country.
Tomah is the boyhood home of Frank King, creator of the comic strip Gasoline Alley. Superior Avenue was nicknamed Gasoline Alley for its many gas stations in the early days of the automobile, and King printed the name in the corner of his cartoons. In 1969, Gasoline Alley signs were placed along Superior Avenue, and King’s desk is on display at the Tomah Area Historical Society Museum. Tomah was also the boyhood home of illustrator John E. Sheridan, known for his Saturday Evening Post covers.
Three Tomah landmarks are on the National Register of Historic Places: the old Tomah Post Office (903 Superior Ave), the Tomah Public Library (716 Superior Ave), and the Tomah Boy Scout Cabin (415 E Council St).
🌲 Recreation & Things to Do
Boating, fishing, swimming, picnic areas, and playgrounds right in town.
A city recreation trail for walking, running, and biking.
Tomah’s local golf course.
Public camping, Whitetail Ridge Ski Area, trout fishing at Trout Falls, and hunting and fishing with a Fort McCoy permit.
Stock car racing in season.
America’s first rail-to-trail, with its famous tunnels, about 15 to 20 minutes away in Kendall, Wilton, and Sparta.
Self-guided driving tours through cranberry marshes north of town and the area’s large Amish community, where horse-and-buggy traffic is a common sight on country roads.
Sandstone bluffs, camping, and a swimming pond near Camp Douglas.
Community Events
- Dairyland Super National Truck & Tractor Pull: June 24–26, 2027, at Recreation Park (1625 Butts Ave). One of the country’s premier pulling events, drawing about 70,000 fans over three days.
- Downtown Thursday Nights: Six summer Thursday evenings on Superior Avenue
- Tomah Farmers Market: Local produce and goods in season
- Warrens Cranberry Festival: September 24–26, 2027 (always the last full weekend of September), just north of Tomah in Warrens, with about 800 arts and crafts vendors, 300 flea market booths, 80+ food booths, and cranberry marsh tours.
🍽️ Where to Eat
Steakhouse dining in Tomah.
Smoked meats and barbecue.
Pizza plus a bowling alley and arcade, a family favorite for a night out.
Coffee shop paired with G.I. Need That military surplus and gear, a natural stop for the Fort McCoy community.
A Wisconsin cheese shop with roots dating to the 1930s, a classic stop off I-94.
🛍️ Shopping, Attractions & Lodging
The Frank King Gasoline Alley collection plus exhibits on logging, railroads, cranberries, and the military.
Downtown shopping on Superior Avenue.
Antiques, collectibles, and local vendors.
Local sports and hobby shop.
Hotel and indoor waterpark, a favorite for visiting family.
📍 Location & Map
- About 10 minutes to Fort McCoy and 15 minutes to Camp Williams, Volk Field, and Sparta
- About 45 minutes to La Crosse and 40 minutes to Wisconsin Dells
- About 1.5 hours to Madison and 2.5 to 3 hours to Minneapolis–St. Paul
Your Tomah Relocation Agent
Liz Walker, Broker Associate, REALTOR®, REMAX RealPros
512 Gateway Ave, Mauston, WI 53948 · 608-547-5301
- 2025 Top Agent in Mauston, RealTrends and FastExpert, and 2025 REMAX 100% Club
- 235 career transactions and 31 five-star reviews
- ABR® (Accredited Buyer’s Representative), SFR®, and C2EX designations
- Experienced helping military families buy from a distance and on a PCS timeline
“She provides a clear and realistic picture of any property, ensuring you have all the information you need to make the best decision, rather than just trying to close a sale. During my military training, she was a crucial support system.”
Corey A., military buyer, Aug 2025
❓ Tomah Relocation FAQ
How far is Tomah from Fort McCoy and Volk Field?
Tomah is about 7 miles (10 minutes) east of Fort McCoy and about 15 minutes west of Camp Williams and Volk Field in Camp Douglas.
What is the typical home value in Tomah, WI?
The typical home value in Tomah was $261,406 as of August 2026 (Zillow), about 23% below the Wisconsin typical value.
What schools serve Tomah?
The Tomah Area School District serves about 3,050 students in 12 schools, including Tomah High School, Tomah Middle School, and LaGrange, Lemonweir, and Miller Elementary. Private options include Queen of the Apostles and St. Paul Lutheran School.
Can I buy a home in Tomah with a VA loan?
Yes. VA loans are very common in Tomah. Most eligible buyers can purchase with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance.
What are the largest employers in Tomah?
Beyond Fort McCoy and the Tomah VA Medical Center, major Tomah employers include Walmart’s distribution center, Toro, Cardinal Glass, Mars Petcare, USEMCO, Tomah Health, and the Tomah Area School District.
Does Amtrak stop in Tomah?
Yes. Tomah’s Amtrak station is served twice daily by the Empire Builder and the Borealis, with direct service to Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis–St. Paul.
Do military members get a property tax exemption in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin doesn’t have a property tax exemption for military members. Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating, or 100% based on individual unemployability, who meet Wisconsin residency requirements can claim the Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit, a refundable income tax credit equal to 100% of property taxes paid on their principal residence.
Who is a real estate agent who helps military families relocate to Tomah?
Liz Walker of REMAX RealPros helps military and relocating families buy in Tomah and the surrounding area, including from a distance. She was named a 2025 Top Agent in Mauston by RealTrends and FastExpert and has 235 career transactions.
Explore Nearby Communities
PCSing to Fort McCoy, Camp Williams, or Volk Field?
Contact Liz Walker, REMAX RealPros, for a relocation consultation, virtual tours, and help finding the right Tomah home before you arrive.
Search Tomah Homes Call or Text 608-547-5301