Milwaukee Living

Welcome to Southeastern Wisconsin, the home of beautiful scenery and friendly people. Milwaukee has been nicknamed "A Great Place on a Great Lake," a name that really applies to the entire region, from Ozaukee County south to the Illinois state line and from Lake Michigan west to the glacial hills of Waukesha and Washington counties. Nestled on the western shores of Lake Michigan, this region is the hidden jewel of the Upper Midwest. It blends small town ambience and big city excitement into a way of living that quickly captures the hearts of newcomers, many of whom never want to move away. Southeastern Wisconsin offers a wealth of business and social opportunities. Its diversified economy is built on a firm foundation of industrial, high-tech and service jobs. The area's rich ethnic heritage has spawned a variety of colorful events and award-winning restaurants. But this is no news to people who live here. Southeastern Wisconsin has been a great home town since Native Americans arrived hundreds of years ago.

An Overview | Climate | Quality of Life | The People | The Area's Roots | Architecture | Beer Town | Transportation | Business & Industry | Media 

Things To Do

When it comes to fun, Milwaukee can't be beat. Anyone who has lived here for more than a year can attest to the dizzying pace of parades, festivals and music throughout the five-county area. There's always something going on – no matter what the season. The social calendar explodes in the summer with a never-ending slate of events, including concerts, block parties and sailboat races. There's always dancing and merrymaking at the city's lakefront park, where more than one million revelers gather to enjoy the 11-day Summerfest music festival and the almost weekly ethnic celebrations that celebrate Irish, German, Italian, Polish, African American and Native American cultures. Sports fans can find a professional team for every major sport, while patrons of the arts can enjoy outstanding performances by nationally acclaimed dance, theater and opera companies. There's also more than 20,000 acres of public parks, miles of lakefront beaches and extensive hiking and biking trails. It's no coincidence that Milwaukee attracts more than 5 million visitors every year!

An Overview | Festivals & Parades | Restaurants | Box Office/Music/Dance | Theatre Companies | Museums-General | Museums-History | Nature/Wildlife | Professional Sports | Racing | Major Milwaukee Events 

Communities

What makes Milwaukee such a great place to live? The communities of the metropolitan area, each of which offers a quality of life that can't be beat. Looking for an urban setting that's close to downtown or a rural outpost where you can enjoy nature? There is something here for everyone. Within 20 minutes of the downtown, there are major cities and unincorporated towns with no more than 500 residents. Each of the five counties in the metropolitan area has its own distinct character. Milwaukee County seethes with energy. There's always something happening on its vibrant social calendar.

Order the Greater Milwaukee Relocation Handbook for detailed information on schools, communities, home prices, and more...

An Overview | Milwaukee County | Waukesha County | Ozaukee County | Racine County | Washington County 

Financing A Home

• Mortgage products that are available in Wiconsin
• Home inspections and home inspectors (who must be licensed by state law)
• Worksheets for calculating home affordability
• Charts comparing the impact of specific property taxes on home costs
• A comprehensive glossary of important financing terms

An Overview 

Buying & Building

Among Milwaukee’s better qualities is the affordability of its homes. Milwaukee is fortunate to have a wide range of homes in a variety of price ranges. You can buy a home dating back to the mid-1800s or build a dream home to your specifications. Young families and urban professionals can find a variety of "starter" homes in the $60,000 to $90,000 range.

In addition, the Milwaukee area has its share of affluent neighborhoods, many of them located along Lake Michigan in northern Milwaukee County and in northern Racine County and in the lake region of western Waukesha County.

An Overview | Condominiums | New Construction

Apartments

Each property offers its own ambience and offer a variety of plan designs – from cozy studios to luxury apartment homes. They are equipped with microwaves, washers and dryers, cable and broadband hookups, dishwashers and garbage disposals. Many properties feature activity rooms, exercise facilities and swimming pools.

An Overview 

Condos

Condominiums have become the preferred housing for singles, young professionals and “empty nesters” who have neither the time nor the desire to do yard work. The sale of condominiums is the fastest-growing segment of the region’s housing market, with the rate of growth averaging between 30 percent and 40 percent per year. In the past few years, dozens of condominium projects have been started in downtown Milwaukee, reflecting a renewed interest in urban living. Especially popular are loft homes, which can be found in rehabbed historic buildings in the Third Ward, Brewers Hill and downtown Milwaukee. Dozens of new conominium communities ae also springing up in suburban communities, around golf courses and in carefull designed environmental conservation areas.

An Overview | Condos

Helpful Information

Unless you're carefully organized, moving can disintegrate into a nightmare of seemingly endless last-minute headaches. The key is to make a list of the things that have to be done and then accomplish those tasks using a steady and determined approach.

Moving to a new city means developing new relationships. In order to do that, you need to make sure you have the records you need to establish yourself in your new community.

An Overview | Important Documents | Property Taxes | Utilities | U.S. Post Office | United Parcel Service | Drivers' Licenses/DMV | Vehicle Emission Testing | Overnight Parking | Moving Tips | Day Care 

Schools

The Milwaukee area is also known for its colleges and universities. The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee has more than 26,000 students in 150 different undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The university’s business school accommodates approximately 3,500 students and is noted for its research in manufacturing, information systems, accounting, marketing, finance strategy and leadership, business development, and diversity issues. Marquette University offers more than 11,300 students a wide array of academic choices, and more than 60 majors, through its nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. More than 2,900 students attend the Milwaukee School of Engineering, a private university that celebrated its centennial in 2003.

An Overview 

Shopping

The best way to experience Southeastern Wisconsin may be a “shopping safaris” that will introduce you to the many unique specialty stores and shopping areas in the five-county region. Six regional shopping malls are located in the five-county metropolitan area.

An Overview | Department Stores & Shopping Malls | Major Grocery Stores | Outlet Malls 

Where To Stay

The Milwaukee area boasts plenty of hotels, but because it is a popular tourist destination, rooms can be difficult to find on short notice, especially in the summer. Hotel offerings include a variety of both traditional hotels and all-suite or extended-stay hotels, which cater to people who need a room for several nights or longer.

An Overview 

Health & Fitness

Milwaukee has a strong medical community that includes educational and research facilities; six integrated health care systems offering everything from routine physician visits to inpatient surgeries; more than two dozen hospitals, several inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities; and a variety of health care plans ranging from traditional fee-for-service programs to health maintenance organizations. The Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, a sprawling campus of hospitals, outpatient clinics, health-related educational facilities and research centers, is located in the center of the metropolitan area. It includes Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, a 222-bed acute-care hospital; Froedtert Memorial Hospital, which operates the state’s only Level 1 Trauma Center; the Medical College of Wisconsin, one of the nation’s largest private medical schools; the Blood Center of Wisconsin, which operates an internationally recognized research center; and Curative Rehabilitation Center, one of the most comprehensive rehabilitation centers in the country.

An Overview | Health Clubs | Sports & Recreation

Employment

Whether you're looking for a new job when you move to Milwaukee or are relocating because your "significant other" is making a career move, there are plenty of alternatives to pursue in the Milwaukee area.

The five-county metropolitan area is an ideal community in which to find work because there is a wide variety of manufacturing, service, financial and public sector jobs. In addition, the economy is vibrant. The local unemployment rate has hovered around 3.5 percent for the last two years and has consistently outperformed the national economy during the past decade.

An Overview | Job Data | Milwaukee's Largest Employers | Median Job Salaries | Employment Distribution | Projected Job Growth

Fun Facts

Beyond the setting of the sitcoms Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley, real-life Milwaukee boasts a colorful past of famous natives and popular quirks. Have a look and discover what makes Milwaukeens like no one else.

Famous Residents | It Happened Here First | Milwaukee Slang