585,589
Population
Sunny Days: 190
49100 Affordability
70100 Schools
55100 Diversity
53100 Safety
Being from Milwaukee is a badge of honor.
-Kevon Looney: NBA Player
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cooler By The Lake
Milwaukee Skyline at Dusk, Credit: Wei Zeng
The Best Thing About Milwaukee?
Location, location, location
Whether it’s hot or cold -- and it will be both -- there’s always something to do in Milwaukee. The city is known for its world-class museums and theater, a resurgent (again) downtown, hip restaurants and hot spots, and its crowning jewel of three miles of beach lakefront. And it’s only a short drive from world capitals like Chicago, as well as vacation destinations like Door County, Lake Geneva and the Wisconsin Dells.
Here's the pov on the pros of living in Milwaukee from a local:
-relatively inexpensive to dine out and the food is generally underrated - plenty of good restaurants that are on par with Chicago but at a fraction of the price
-access to the lake is much better than Chicago
-people are genuinely nice
-summerfest
For more reviews of Milwaukee from locals check out: The Reviews
The Worst Thing About Milwaukee?
The weather
The lakefront is amazing in the summer, but it can be hell in the winter. “Cooler by the lake” can mean that it is literally 10 degrees colder than the rest of the state. That cold means temperatures well below zero, not even including the blasted wind chill. Tornadoes, hail storms and frigid temps are just some of the unpredictable weather that hits Milwaukee. The sun can be elusive for days, which can strongly affect people with seasonal disorders. Of course, all this means is that Milwaukeeans appreciate the good days all that much more.
Here's a pov on weather here from a transplanter:
I moved here from southern California 4 years ago now. The weather here is wonderful about 8 months out of the year. The other 4 are cold and/or rainy, which isn't necessarily terrible. Unlike California, the weather changes daily - sometimes even during the day - and it's rarely as hot as the Bay Area in the summer.
For more reviews of Milwaukee from locals check out: The Reviews
Lifestyle Of Milwaukee
Consistently named one of the most affordable metro areas in the country, life in Milwaukee won’t eat away at your budget like it will in other big cities. But that’s not to say that it’s an inferior option. Over the past 15 years, Milwaukee has undergone one of its famous reinventions of itself, this time evolving (or devolving, depending on your perspective) into a hip and funky mini-metropolis.
The beer scene lives up to the hype, with highly rated breweries popping up all over town ‘Brew City,’ and foodies rejoice with highly rated restaurants and a wide variety of options aplenty… not to mention the cheese tastings that Wisconsin is famous for. Sports fandoms in Milwaukee are huge, with pro sports teams like the Brewers, Bucks and Packers repped all around town. The expansive Milwaukee Public Market and countless summer music festivals including the internationally known Summerfest give the more social crowd an opportunity to take advantage of the warmer summer weather.
If you want to get a flavor of what happens in Milwaukee check out the calendar of events.
Worklife Of Milwaukee
Although there’s no such thing as a perfect job market, Milwaukee’s is solid as a thick sheet of winter ice, with unemployment rates as low as the temperatures and job options in some sectors accumulating like the snow on your lawn. An increasingly younger generation of transplants have been moving to Brew City to take advantage of the low cost of living and lively new development in recent years.
The manufacturing business is popular in Milwaukee, with Harley Davidson, Rockwell Automation, and Johnson Controls being some of the big names in that department. Milwaukee is also a major destination for healthcare workers. Froedtert and Advocate Aurora Health are two of the biggest employers in the Milwaukee area.
Why You Should Move Here Now?
Milwaukee is always changing and adapting .
Milwaukee has always been a place of reinvention. Its now-thriving downtown has had many highs and lows, and right now, though its enjoying a resurgence, the cost of living hasn’t quite caught up. So you can have the big city life, without all the big city costs. For the time being.
Living in Milwaukee
Neighborhoods in Milwaukee
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The Area
The city of Milwaukee sits on the shores of Lake Michigan, with the eastern side of the city on the water and the west side more inland. Speaking of water, the city is also at the confluence of three rivers: the Menomonee, the Kinnickinnic, and the Milwaukee. The city is similar to Detroit in that the city center is on the water and there are highways leading out of the city like spokes of a wheel. The streets are on a grid system, with N/S cities being numbered and E/W streets being named. The closest major metropolitan area is Chicago, a quick hour and a half drive south. Madison is the same distance directly west and Green bay is equal distance north.
East Side
College Students
Milwaukee is home to several colleges including UW-Milwaukee, Marquette University, and several others. Although there is student housing surrounding each institution, the best area for a college vibe is hands-down East Side. IT’s trendy, it’s young, and it’s the most popular spot for nightlife along Brady Street. This is the place to move if you are a night owl looking for endless possibilities for a night out.
- East Side
- Avenues West
- Walker’s Point
Third Ward
Young Professionals
If you’re planning to move to Milwaukee and you’re a recent grad or young professional, you’ll have your pick of great neighborhoods in the city. From the LGBTQ+ friendly Walker’s Point to the black-owned business district of Bronzeville, you really can’t go wrong. If you’re looking for that quintessential live-play-work vibe, you’ll want to check out Third Ward. It’s right downtown, which makes commuting a breeze if you work nearby. You’ll also have Lake Michigan in your backyard and as the backdrop to late nights and countless IG posts. Living here, you’ll have your pick of luxury apartments, condos, and converted warehouse lofts.
- Third Ward
- Walker’s Point
- Bronzeville
Riverwalk
DINKs/SINKs
If you want a tight knit community look no further than Riverwest. This neighborhood marches to the beat of its own drum and you can find a little bit of everything here. You want brewpubs? Done. Vegan options? They’ve got you covered. Quirky retail and art venues? But, of course! This area has adorable homes with porches, sidewalk-lined streets, and a ton of friendly neighbors!
- Riverwalk
- Bayview
- Clarke Square
Walker's Point
LGBTQ+
Milwaukee is underrated as a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. From Pridefest Milwaukee and Summerfest to the organizations that fight for the needs of the community, it’s truly underappreciated by the rest of the country. If you want a fun, industrial, foodie-centric neighborhood look no further than Walker’s Point. Second Street has a ton of amazing restaurants and bars, but don’t count out the up and coming Fifth Street for your next night out. Because it’s Milwaukee’s oldest neighborhood you can find amazing homes as well as newer luxury apartments.
- Walker’s Point
- East Side
- Third Ward
Pridefest link https://www.gayrealestate.com/news/usa/wisconsin/milwaukee/lgbtq-milwaukee-a-city-with-a-warm-midwestern-welcome.html
Bay View
Families
If you’re settling down near Milwaukee, you’ll appreciate that it’s not too big of a city for a family (sorry, Chicago). We suggest finding a spot in Bay View, one of Milwaukee’s most popular neighborhoods for families and young professionals. It’s just south of downtown on the coast, it’s hip, eclectic, and home to a huge restaurant district, farmers markets, and weekly concerts. The walkability of this neighborhood to surrounding parks and playgrounds makes this a must-see neighborhood.
- Bay View
- Riverwest
- East Town