Moving to Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee means “gathering place by the water” in the Potowatomi language, and for good reason: Milwaukee is surrounded by rivers and lakes, including the oceanic Lake Michigan. With that comes many beaching, sailing and swimming opportunities (when it’s warm), and plenty of splendid views.

Milwaukee has a lot to offer on land as well. It has a lively downtown filled with museums, restaurants and the great American ballpark, and the city built on the back of beer-brewing German immigrants has countless bars, taverns and breweries, including Miller.

Layout of Milwaukee

Milwaukee is located on the western edge of Lake Michigan. It’s situated on flat land with bluffs near the waterfront, and it’s dissected by a number of rivers, including the Menomonee and Milwaukee. The area is covered with many forests and lakes.

Nearby cities of Racine and Waukesha combine with Milwaukee to form a metropolitan area that is home to over 1.7 million people. The city is relatively close to the region’s largest city: Chicago. Chicago, which is also located on Lake Michigan, is about 90 miles south of Milwaukee.

Positives of Moving to Milwaukee

• Summer – Summer in Milwaukee is a beautiful time of year. Residents get to enjoy the city’s many parks, lakes and festivals during the long, warm days.
• Festivals – Milwaukee is known as the City of Festivals, because in the summertime, it has countless festivals, from music fests (SummerFest), to ethnic fests (German Fest) to festivals about random topics, like railroads (Train Fest). There’s a festival for everyone in Milwaukee.
• Sports – Milwaukee has a vibrant sports scene, with residents rooting for the hometown Brewers (MLB) and Bucks (NBA) and the nearby Green Bay Packers (NFL) and University of Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA).
• Chicago/Madison – Chicago’s big-city vibe and Madison’s big-college vibe (University of Wisconsin) are both just a short train ride away.
• Higher Education – Milwaukee has a ton of colleges and a very large student population. Some of the most well-known schools in the city are Marquette and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Negatives of Moving to Milwaukee

• Winter – Winters are unruly in Milwaukee. Temperatures are frigid, and the city can get inundated with snow by lake-effect-inspired blizzards. Be prepared for many months of misery.
• Segregation – Milwaukee is known (based on statistical evidence) as the most segregated city in America, with many races isolated in their own neighborhoods.
• Local Transportation – Milwaukee has train access to nearby large cities, but it lacks a commuter rail system within its own city limits. Residents must rely on buses, cars and traffic-filled roads.
• Creative Jobs – Milwaukee has always played second fiddle to other nearby cities when it comes to many types of jobs, and that remains true today for creative, technology-focused jobs, like seen in Silicon Valley, Austin and Columbus. Sadly, this appears to be applying to beer brewing, too. The home of Pabst, Miller and Shlitz is largely failing to join the craft brewing revolution.

Thinking about moving to Milwaukee? Why not talk to some Milwaukee moving companies? You can find them right here: Milwaukee movers.