One of the Midwest's most prominent cities, Milwaukee is home to over half a million people who share a passion for the city's world-famous beer culture, pro sports teams, bustling theatre district and proximity to Lake Michigan. Its nearly 200 neighborhoods are full of architecturally diverse homes, many with price tags well below the national norm. These neighborhoods highlight Milwaukee's cultural diversity, with architecture, businesses and events celebrating the city's African American, Hispanic, Central European and Asian heritage, among others. Once an 1800s port city with many manufacturers and railroads, Milwaukee has kept its strong economy and is home to seven Fortune 500 companies, including Harley-Davidson and Rockwell Automation.
The city has many nicknames, including The Original Brew City, for being one of the world's brewing capitals shortly after its inception. While the beer industry remains prominent in Milwaukee, its primary economic drivers have changed significantly. The largest industries are health care, social assistance and education, and more than 12 hospitals and 18 higher education opportunities employ over twenty-seven percent of working residents. Aurora St Luke's Medical Center is both Milwaukee and Wisconsin's largest hospital. Aurora Health Care and Milwaukee Regional Medical Complex, two of the largest employers in the city, have 10 facilities and buildings between the two campuses. Manufacturing and retail trade still have a place in Milwaukee, thanks to its intersecting highways, railroads and proximity to Lake Michigan and Chicago.
Fair Park is a neighborhood in the heart of Milwaukee, WI.
Healthcare is now one of Milwaukee's largest industries.
The Milwaukee Brewers play less than half a mile from Merrill Park.
Find your friends and a tasty, local beer at the Bay View Bash.
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The City of Festivals
Another nickname for Milwaukee: City of Festivals, because of its weekend eruption of culture, arts, science and sports. Many festivals, like Mexican Independence Day, Polish Fest, Irish Fest and Armenian Fest, celebrate the city's diverse population. There are also a few celebrations of German culture, with German Fest in July and Oktoberfest each October.
The Milwaukee Bucks NBA team plays at Fiserv Forum Arena, while the Brewers MLB team, named for Milwaukee's long history of breweries, plays at American Family Field. When not watching professional sports, locals have 30,000 pieces of art to explore, including original Georgia O'Keeffe paintings at the Milwaukee Art Museum in Lake Park , or a Salvidor Dali painting at the Haggerty Museum of Art on Marquette University's campus. Concerts, plays and musicals tour the city at one of the many performing arts centers and theaters, such as the Pabst Theatre in East Town . The late-1800s, European-inspired opera house seats over 1,300 beneath a 2-ton crystal chandelier and is named after the original Pabst Brewery.
Milwaukee's largest live music event is Summerfest, billed as the "world's largest outdoor music festival." First held in 1968, the festival attracts nearly 800,000 visitors annually. American Family Insurance, local brewers and other companies sponsor this 12-stage event over three weekends every summer. Its 2024 lineup included Kane Brown, Keith Urban, Mötley Crüe, Mt. Joy and other chart-topping headliners.
Summer isn't complete without the Wisconsin State Fair in Fair Park.
Oktoberfest at St. Auggies has been going on for decades in Lincoln Village.
Music fills the air throughout the Juneteenth Celebration in Harambee.
Hispanic Heritage Month hosts events all over Milwaukee including Avenues West.
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The Original Brew City
Milwaukee is a diverse city with a large population of people who have Eastern European roots. According to census data, nearly 15% of residents claim German origin, and Milwaukee's cuisine and early industries reflect that ancestry. Milwaukee was once a port city that was the world's largest wheat exporter. This accessibility to grain and hops, in conjunction with a large population of German settlers and the construction of grain elevators, led to breweries, including some famous ones that have stood the test of time. The local beer scene brewed over during the 1800s, birthing internationally renowned brands like Pabst, Schlitz and Miller. Today, beer fanatics can tour the historic Miller Brewing Company or stop by one of many micro- and nano-breweries in the area.
Earning the nickname "The Culinary Capital of the Midwest," Milwaukee has a robust dining scene that features an array of restaurants that reflect the city's diversity. Polish, Italian, Hispanic, German and soul food restaurants are standard. The downtown area has modern eateries and watering holes and is where many of the city's farmers' markets take place. One standout is the indoor Milwaukee Public Market in the Historic Third Ward neighborhood. Corner stores and markets are on the residential streets, and large shopping plazas with national grocers, big box stores, and chain eateries are at some of the most prominent intersections of main thoroughfares.
There are currently 32 Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in the works to increase the city's number of commercial, retail and industrial pockets. These projects, organized by business owners and community members, have transformed spaces into restaurants, creative spaces and locations for small businesses to get their start.
Cheers with friends and immerse yourself in Milwaukee German heritage at The Bavarian Bierhaus.
Learn about Milwaukee's Brewing past on a tour at the historic Miller Brewing Company.
Head to the Milwaukee Public Market in the Historic Third Ward for a one-stop foodie adventure.
Find wholesome family cooking at one of Milwaukee's favorites, Daddy's Soul Food & Grille.
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Major price differences from block to block
Some call Milwaukee "a city of neighborhoods" due to its more than 190 distinct communities the people call home. These range from the sprawling lakeside community of Bay View to one-eighth of a square mile Red Oak Heights in the city's landlocked southwest reaches. "The neighborhoods vary considerably from one to the next," says Ben Mullikin, a Realtor with M3 Realty with over 20 years of real estate experience. "Prices, house styles and people are different almost from block to block," he says. Most neighborhoods have gridded blocks of single-family homes and duplexes, like those in Riverwest , Washington Heights and Harambee . Some Milwaukee homes have stood since the late 1800s when European immigrants flooded the city and left their cultural stamps on the local architecture. Polish-inspired buildings fill neighborhoods like Polonia on the city's South Side. Still, bungalows are the most frequent sight for homebuyers browsing in Milwaukee. Mainly built between 1900 and 1930, they often have a squat stature, wide porches and low-pitched Jerkinhead roofs. Duplexes are also common throughout the city, either townhouse-style, side-by-side or stacked, apartment-style units.
Single-family home prices vary dramatically throughout the city, ranging from $5,000 for a tax foreclosure property to $1.6 million for a Tudor Revival or Queen Anne Victorian along Lake Michigan. Some of Milwaukee's most expensive properties are in downtown high-rise, luxury condominium buildings, where many units reach $2 million. The city has a median home price of $220,000, well below the national average of $416,700. The Milwaukee Home Down Payment Assistance program grants $5,000 to first-time homeowners who meet income eligibility requirements to increase homeownership throughout the city. Up to $7,000 is available for those buying a home in Community Development Block areas.
Various architectural styles can be found throughout Brewer's Hill.
Bay View residents take great pride in their flower gardens.
From cape cods to tudors, Milwaukee 's home market is architecturally diverse.
Condos and office towers reflect the sunset in East Town.
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Historic sites at Frederick Law Olmstead parks
Many of Milwaukee County Parks' 150-plus public green spaces are within the Milwaukee city limits. Among the most prominent is Lake Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead of Central Park fame. Visitors can enjoy 18 holes of golf and play pickup games at soccer, softball and tennis facilities along Lake Michigan. Those wanting a breathtaking view of the lake can climb the steps of the 74-foot-tall North Point Lighthouse, which has stood since 1888. Lake access is available at the neighboring McKinley Park, Veterans Park and Lakeshore State Park, which feature public beach areas, fishing spots, boating docks and marinas.
Mitchell Park, immediately south of the Menomonee River Valley, is one of Milwaukee's most iconic parks, featuring three recognizable glass domes. These are home to the Mitchell Park Conservatory, which showcases tropical, desert and seasonal flora year-round. Milwaukee County Zoo has hundreds of animal species from around the world and covers 190 acres in the city's westernmost stretches. Before moving to its current location, the Milwaukee County Zoo was in Washington Park, also designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. Washington Park is one of the oldest parks in Milwaukee and was once a popular location for upper-middle-income settlers to watch horse races, go on carriage rides and attend concerts at the band shell.
Milwaukee River Parkway connects many parks along the Milwaukee River with 28 miles of biking, hiking and water trails for canoeing and kayaking. The parkway has nearly 900 acres of designated green space along 6 miles of the river. Another extensive system is the Oak Leaf Trail. The Milwaukee County-wide multi-use path system stretches over 135 miles and welcomes pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladers and birdwatchers.
The North Point Lighthouse in Milwaukee's Lake Park is a must see during any stroll in the park.
Lakeshore State Park is one of Milwaukee's many cycling thoroughfares.
The Milwaukee River Parkway and Kletzsch Park offer serene fishing locations, right in the city
The Milwaukee County Zoo has been a cherished stop for animal loving families.
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Buses, scooters, bikes and highways
Milwaukee's streetscape mainly features a checkerboard-style grid pattern. Three main highways intersect at the city: interstates 41, 43 and 94. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median commute time for Milwaukee workers is about 22 minutes, and fewer households own a car than the national average. There are bike shares and scooters around the downtown area, but the main form of public transportation is via bus. The Milwaukee County Transit Bus System provides over 15 million rides annually, with 42 routes and over 4,500 stops throughout the city.
In Milwaukee, there are 160 miles of bike lanes between designated lanes, buffered lanes and lanes where drivers share the road. The 160 miles do not include the large number of miles on paved biking trails in parks and along trails like the County Oak Leaf Trail and the Beerline Trail.
"Connecting MKE" is the city's plan detailing local officials' vision for downtown Milwaukee through 2040. Mayor Cavalier Johnson believes Milwaukee will have grown to over 1 million people by then. Major components planned for the downtown area include more public gathering spaces and rail routes for local commuters and inter-city travelers. Officials would also like to increase pedestrian, bike and public transit access to downtown's roadways. The city is working on almost 50 new projects to increase the number of designated bike lanes.
Longer-distance commuters have several options in Milwaukee. Interstate 94 takes drivers west to Madison and south to Chicago. Many Windy City commuters can skip rush hour via the Hiawatha Amtrak, which reliably travels between Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) and downtown Chicago in 90 minutes. The airport has 12 airlines and nearly 500 daily inbound and outbound flights.
Choosing between 150 schooling options
Milwaukee Public Schools is a city-wide district with nearly 70,000 children in pre-K through 12th grade. It has an overall C rating from Niche and operates 150 public schools throughout the city. These include eight public Montessori schools, 21 bilingual schools and 11 schools with international Baccalaureate programs. The district offers school of choice, and students can enroll in any school in the district. Admission depends on open seats and sometimes entry requirements like tests or interviews for specialized schools.
Several acclaimed schools are popular among MPS families and usually attract the most applicants. Golda Meir School teaches grades three through 12 on two campuses on the North Side and has an A-minus from Niche. Its various gifted and talented offerings include an Advanced Placement Diploma program and collaborations with arts organizations like the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra. Ronald Wilson Reagan College Preparatory High School offers a four-year I.B. program south of the Menomonee River Valley. Niche gives it an A-plus and calls it Wisconsin's best magnet high school. Other Milwaukee K-12 schools include diverse charter options and religious and secular private schools.
Milwaukee is home to 18 higher education options, including the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. About 18,000 undergraduate and 4,500 graduate students attend the public, four-year university in the Downer Woods neighborhood, mere blocks from Lake Michigan. Liberal arts, humanities, marketing and nursing are among the university's most popular areas of study. The university employs close to 8,000 people.
Storms and extreme temperatures across four seasons
Because of its geographical location, Milwaukee has hot and humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Lake Michigan's proximity and the rivers that run through the city mean that a relatively large number of buildings are prone to flooding. Blizzards are common in the city, and the Department of Public Works manages snow removal services and road salting.
In addition to weather storms, the area is prone to geomagnetic storms, and northern lights occasionally light the outer edges of the city's sky despite a high level of light pollution.
FBI data reflects higher property and violent crime rates in Milwaukee than in the U.S. or state. According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the city saw a 9% year-over-year decrease in overall crime instances between 2022 and 2023. During this period, homicide, motor vehicle theft, and arson decreased by more than 20%.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
