Milwaukee, WI, known as 'Cream City,' offers a unique blend of cultural heritage and modern amenities. Located in southeastern Wisconsin, Milwaukee is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Madison and Chicago enhance its status as a central point in the Great Lakes region. Milwaukee's blend of historic breweries, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Milwaukee is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Milwaukee Art Museum, the historic Third Ward, and the Harley-Davidson Museum. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Lakefront Park to the bustling Milwaukee Public Market, known for its local vendors and food. Milwaukee's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from classic cheese curds to international cuisine.
Annual events such as Summerfest and the Wisconsin State Fair highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Milwaukee's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Milwaukee is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Milwaukee provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Milwaukee’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Brewers (MLB) and the Bucks (NBA), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Milwaukee include manufacturing, healthcare, and finance, with significant employers such as Harley-Davidson and Northwestern Mutual driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses, the Milwaukee Streetcar, and Amtrak.
Amenities
Within the vicinity, you'll find a wealth of amenities, from restaurants and coffee shops to grocery stores and local shops, all easily accessible on foot.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Schools
Factors such as lower than average graduation rates, lackluster reading and math scores and the limited accessibility of local elementary and high schools could contribute to the low schools score.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a highly populated city with a population of 592,649 residents. Milwaukee has a population density of 6,162 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. Milwaukee is known to be an ethnically diverse city. The two most common races are White (42%) and Black or African American (39%). If you are a young adult or student, you might be pleased to know that the average age of all Milwaukee residents is 31. Milwaukee is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 35%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married.
Without the right tools, moving to any new area can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin could be a great experience for anyone who puts in the time to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. To help you find the best places to live in and around Milwaukee, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, education, employment and more.
Milwaukee, WI receives 78 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #66 in Wisconsin and #1,761 in the USA. Based on this score, Milwaukee would be considered a very livable city! Another exciting tidbit, is that Milwaukee ranks better than 90% of all US cities! If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Milwaukee has higher than average scores for the following: cost of living (A+) and housing (B+). Regrettably for Milwaukee, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: crime (F), education (F) and employment (D).
If you're living in Milwaukee, you can expect to enjoy a multitude of local amenities, mostly thanks to the strategic placement of essential services such as grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks and various shops. If you're contemplating a move to this locale with the intent of establishing it as your permanent residence, you'll be pleased to find an extensive array of amenities and recreational opportunities within easy reach, either on foot or via a brief commute. This wealth of accessible amenities not only enhances the livability of the area but also ensures that you can enjoy a rich and fulfilling lifestyle, making Milwaukee an attractive destination for those seeking a vibrant and well-served community to call home. A few of the enjoyable things to experience and sights to see are: Milwaukee Art Museum, Miller Park, and Lakefront Brewery.
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Milwaukee excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
Milwaukee real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Milwaukee. Median real estate prices in Milwaukee come in at $128,300, which is 23.2% lower than the Wisconsin average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Milwaukee, the home price to income ratio is 3, which is 3.2% lower than the Wisconsin average.
| Statistic | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | National |
| Average one way commute | 22min | 22min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 71.9% | 80.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.0% | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 6.7% | 1.9% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 4.3% | 3.3% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.4% | 4.2% | 4.6% |
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