Delafield is Lake Country's upscale small town: a historic Main Street (Genesee Street) of shops and restaurants, Nagawicka Lake at its doorstep, Lapham Peak's ski and hiking trails just south, and I-94 running right past. Michael's own First Weber office is on Golf Road in Delafield, so this is home turf.
Delafield at a Glance
Type
City of Delafield; surrounding Town of Delafield is a separate municipality
County
Waukesha
Typical home value
$766,469
Zillow ZHVI, City of Delafield, Aug 2026
Median sale price
$759,671
ZIP 53018, 3 mo. ending Aug 31, 2026, Redfin data via OfferBacked
Price per sq ft
~$284
same source); $304 (Redfin city, 3 mo. ending Jun 2026
Days on market
~55 to contract
53018, 3 mo. ending Aug 2026
2025 property tax rate
$7.85–$9.60 per $1,000 market value depending on school district
School districts
Kettle Moraine, Lake Country/Arrowhead, Oconomowoc Area
by address
Main lakes
Nagawicka Lake, Upper & Lower Nemahbin, Pewaukee Lake nearby
Market: Redfin 3 mo. ending Aug 2026; Realtor.com Jun 2026; Zillow Aug 2026. Taxes: 2025 rates.
Neighborhoods and Areas
Downtown Delafield (Genesee Street)
Historic homes and newer condos near shops, restaurants, Hawks Inn and the Lake Country Trail.
Nagawicka Lake
Lakefront and lake-access homes around a roughly 900+ acre lake, from older cottages to new luxury builds.
Subdivisions
Neighborhoods tracked by Realtor.com in ZIP 53018 include Cedar Valley, Graham Park, Hickory Hills, Huntington Heights, Twin Oaks, Wilderness Trail, Steeple Pointe and Timber Ridge Estates.
Town of Delafield
Larger lots and acreage south and west of the city, near Lapham Peak and the Nemahbin lakes, with lower tax rates and a more rural feel.
Delafield Home Prices and Market Trends
Delafield has a small number of sales each month, so medians swing a lot. Read them as a range, not a precise number:
- Redfin data (ZIP 53018), 3 months ending Aug 31, 2026: median sale price $759,671, ~$284/sq ft, ~55 days to contract, 32% sold over list, about 6 months of supply (balanced market), based on 26 sales.
- Redfin city page, 3 months ending June 2026: $591,678 median (–30.3% YoY on only 16 June sales — a sample-size swing, not a crash).
- Realtor.com, June 2026: median sold $897,000; median listing $850,000; $297/sq ft; 29 median days on market.
Appreciation
- 1-year: Zillow typical value rose to $766,469 (Aug 2026); the January-to-January ZHVI went $706K → $746K (+5.7%, 2025→2026).
- 5-year: roughly +35–39% (ZHVI ~$551K Jan 2021 → $746K Jan 2026; ~$767K Aug 2026).
Property Taxes
From Waukesha County's 2025 rate sheet (per $1,000):
| Municipality (school district) | Gross (assessed) | Net | Effective (market value) |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Delafield (Lake Country SD/Arrowhead) | $9.40 | $8.15 | $7.85 |
| City of Delafield (Oconomowoc Area SD) | $10.19 | $8.94 | $8.61 |
| City of Delafield (Kettle Moraine SD) | $11.22 | $9.96 | $9.60 |
| Town of Delafield (Kettle Moraine SD) | $9.70 | $8.47 | $8.41 |
| Town of Delafield (Lake Country SD) | $7.94 | $6.71 | $6.66 |
Example: a $750,000 home in the City (Lake Country SD) ≈ $5,900/year at $7.85 effective. Excludes lake district and special charges.
Schools
Delafield is split across districts, which matters for both taxes and attendance:
- Kettle Moraine School District (Kettle Moraine High School in Wales, plus charter high schools such as KM Global and KM Explore —).
- Lake Country School District (K-8, Hartland) feeding Arrowhead Union High School.
- Oconomowoc Area School District for some western addresses.
- Private: St. John's Northwestern Academies (boarding/day school) in the heart of Delafield; University Lake School is nearby in Hartland.
Check school-level ratings on the Wisconsin DPI Report Card portal and confirm the district for any specific address.
Lakes, Parks and the Outdoors
Nagawicka Lake
Delafield's signature lake for boating, sailing and swimming, with a public launch (Bleeker Street).
Lapham Peak (Kettle Moraine State Forest)
The highest point in Waukesha County, with an observation tower, groomed and lighted cross-country ski trails, and a segment of the Ice Age Trail.
Lake Country Trail
Paved trail through Delafield linking toward Oconomowoc and Waukesha.
Delafield Fish Hatchery and Lois Jensen Nature Preserve
Quiet spots for walks and birding along the Bark River.
Things to Do and Annual Events
- Lake Country Art Festival (July; held July 11, 2026)
- Delafield Block Party (July; held July 16–18, 2026)
- Downtown boutiques, galleries and seasonal events on Genesee Street (confirm the 2027 calendar with the Delafield Chamber)
- Hawks Inn & Delafield History Center, an 1846 stagecoach inn museum
- Cross-country skiing and hiking at Lapham Peak; boating on Nagawicka
Restaurants and Coffee
- I.d. — modern American small plates at The Delafield Hotel, 415 Genesee St (4.8 on OpenTable)
- Delafield Brewhaus — brewpub with a beer garden, 3832 Hillside Dr
- Water Street Brewery – Lake Country — 3191 Golf Rd
- The Commodore – A Bartolotta Restaurant — on Nagawicka Lake in the former Seven Seas (Hartland address)
- Additional downtown cafés and coffee shops —
Sights and Landmarks
- St. John's Northwestern Academies campus and its historic stone buildings
- Hawks Inn (1846)
- Lapham Peak observation tower
- Nagawicka Lake shoreline
Shopping
Delafield's downtown has locally owned boutiques; the Hwy 83/I-94 area includes big-box retail, and Brookfield's malls are about 15–20 minutes east.
Healthcare
The nearest hospitals are Aurora Medical Center – Summit (just west, off I-94), ProHealth Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital and ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital.
Commute Times
| To | Distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Brookfield | ~13 mi | ~15–20 min |
| Downtown Milwaukee | ~27 mi | ~35 min |
| Madison | ~55 mi | ~55–60 min |
| Waukesha | ~10 mi | ~15 min |
Approximate, normal traffic.
Delafield in Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Delafield a good place to live?
Delafield offers a historic walkable downtown, Nagawicka Lake, Lapham Peak and quick I-94 access, which is why it's one of Lake Country's most sought-after addresses.
How much is a house in Delafield, WI?
Zillow's typical home value for the City was $766,469 in August 2026. Recent median sale prices ranged from about $592K to $897K depending on the period, because so few homes sell each month.
What is the difference between the City and Town of Delafield?
They're separate municipalities with different services and tax rates. The Town generally has larger lots and lower rates.
What school district is Delafield in?
It depends on the address: Kettle Moraine, Lake Country (with Arrowhead High School) or Oconomowoc Area.
What are Delafield property taxes?
2025 effective rates in the City run from about $7.85 to $9.60 per $1,000 of market value, depending on school district.
What is there to do in Delafield?
Hike or ski Lapham Peak, boat Nagawicka Lake, bike the Lake Country Trail, and eat and shop along Genesee Street.
