Riverton Heights

With an assortment of well-built, single- and multi-family homes, from recent decades, Riverton Heights offers relatively low-maintenance Milwaukee living that fits a range of budgets. And with parks, a bustling business district and public schools for all ages within minutes by car, it’s anything but inconvenient.

Riverton Heights occupies a small chunk of Milwaukee’s Northwest Side, about 11 miles from the heart of downtown. Its roughly 1,200 residents are split between two residential sections: single-family homes and duplexes in the northern half of the neighborhood; condominiums and apartments in the southern half. “The majority of the homes were built in the mid-1960s to early ‘70s, with a couple of newer ones mixed in there,” says real estate expert Bret Duer of Keller Williams Realty Prestige. “Most of them are ranch-style homes, either a three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath or a four-bedroom, two-bath. And then there are some two-story homes.” In fact, duplexes lining North 93rd Street offer two-story, side-by-side units.

Meanwhile, Parkway Village, in the southern section, features rows of townhouse-style condos built in the mid-1970s, plus a few ranch-style duplexes and smaller standalone homes. Two-bedroom condos start in the low $100,000s, while an early-2000s Colonial, over 2,300 square feet, in the northern section, could cost over $400,000.

One school operates in Riverton Heights: the private Granville Lutheran School. Around 260 kindergarten through eighth-grade students attend this branch of the LUMIN Schools network, which has earned above-average ratings from the state education department. The closest Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) location is Lowell P. Goodrich School, which accommodates kindergarten through fifth grade, two blocks west. Goodrich School offers a family-oriented school environment with PTO-sponsored events like movie nights, Halloween and winter holiday celebrations. Other MPS locations within a seven-minute drive include Henry David Thoreau School, for kindergarten through eighth grade, and Vincent High School of Agricultural Sciences.

However, Duer adds that many families in Riverton Heights apply for open enrollment at school districts in neighboring municipalities. “What draws most of the people into that neighborhood is the school choice,” he says. “It’s a little bit of a better value to buy a house in that neck of the woods and then be close to the schools in Wauwatosa, Sussex and Menomonee Falls.”

When the weather is too good to stay indoors, follow Granville Road about a block north of Riverton Heights to reach Popuch Park. Part of the Milwaukee County Parks system, this neighborhood green space offers nearly 12 acres of open, tree-peppered playfields, a playground and two basketball half-courts. A few minutes in the opposite direction, Vincent High School is surrounded by well-kept athletic facilities, including four baseball diamonds, eight tennis courts, soccer fields and more. If you’re willing to drive a tad farther for a more expansive outdoor experience, drive about seven minutes west to Dretzka Park. At 326 acres, Dretzka is one of the Northwest Side’s largest public parks and features an 18-hole golf course, a 27-hole disc golf course and access to the countywide Oak Leaf Trail.

A few casual, locally owned restaurants operate just north of Popuch Park, offering various cuisines at modest prices. El Tenampa Mexican Grill & Cantina is closest to Riverton Heights, a classic Mexican joint where the fajitas are always sizzling and the margaritas are constantly flowing. Cross the train tracks to the north, and you’ll find Irie Palace Bar and Grill. This laid-back Jamaican establishment amps up the authenticity with imported Jamaican beverages and dishes, like oxtail and curry goat. And for a drink to end the day, Sheehan’s offers a classic Irish bar setting, with pool tables and darts, plus traditional American eats, like wings and burgers.

Work opportunities abound in the industry-heavy Northwest Side. Riverton Heights is conveniently located next to a massive business corridor, home to employers like GE HealthCare and Snap-on Incorporated. You can also head a few minutes down Bradley Road to take care of errands at Woodman’s Food Market, Sam’s Club and Aldi.

Written By

John Battiston

Photography Contributed By

Richard Ebbers

Video By

Alexander Wong