Relocating to Milwaukee, Cost of Living, Pros and Cons
Vložit
- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
- Milwaukee is trending and here is why! I moved to Milwaukee 12 years ago and here is what I like about the city, and what, well, not so much.
Download free guides at www.onpointrg.com or contact me directly!
cell: 262 671 6868
email: m.auerbach@kw.com
Website: OnPointRG.com
Marcus Auerbach is one the the top real estate agents in the greater Milwaukee Area: located in Mequon, an engineer by trade, corporate management background, passionate remodeler and real estate investor, he is the owner of On Point Realty Group powered by Keller Williams North Shore.
Service areas include most of the Milwaukee metro area: Mequon, Cedarburg, Grafton, Port Washington, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, West Allis, Brookfield, New Berlin and more.
Download free guides at www.onpointrg.com
Milwaukee, our hometown (yes, we're biased), is a hidden gem. It's not perfect by far. But so many people who come here say they never knew Milwaukee had such awesome aspects to it. It's fantastic.
You are absolutely right! Even people who grew up here and come back after ten years or so are really surprised how it changed! What's your favorite thing that I missed?
@@MarcusMKE First thing that comes to mind is the neighborhoods in the city. Brady Street is such a fun mix of old school ethnic charm, quirky shops & so many different food & tavern options. Its as close as you can get to a culinary United Nations in a city of 600,000. Bay View is a blast, filled with quirky fun. Walker's Point mixes that same quirk with artistic flair, old school taverns & Hispanic restaurants. And King Drive in Brewers Hill & Bronzeville is on a fantastic comeback.
@@SorgiStories You are right, I think I will have to make some neighborhood videos...
@Nice One You noticed! And no hatred for Chicago. It just is what it is.
@Nice One On very rare occasion, as my wife can attest. ;)
I was born and raised in Milwaukee, but now I live in Southern California. I love the summer in Milwaukee, I come back several times a year to visit family/friends and take part of the festivals. 4th of July is incredible there (which is done on the 3rd at the lakefront). I hope to move back and split my time there and here once I retire.
Milwaukee Autumns are really nice too.
How did you deal with the winters? Isn't cold for 7 months a year?
@@cireewol you get use to it, technically it's very cold 4 to 5 months a year. Fall and summers are a lot better than the L.A. area i live now. Rarely do we get the 100 plus degrees, and the change of seasons are like no other.
@@wisconkenn Thank you for responding!! I heard that Milwaukee was the worst city for black ppl in the country! Is that true? How's LA? I can't pay $2800 for a 1 br apt!
@@cireewol LA is cool but you will pay a lot to live here. I would not say its a bad city for Black people, you have your neighborhoods like every city does across the country. Just pick a festival during the summer and go there, I guarantee that you will have a great time. You will be surprised how far your money goes also.
I might be moving up to Milwaukee in January. I currently live in St. Louis, and I just started a temp job working remotely, and at the end of the year if they decide to offer me a full-time job I would either be moving to their Waukesha, WI, office or their Tampa, FL office. I just found your channel and I'll be exploring it more to educate myself more on the Milwaukee area.
Lived there for 30 years and unfortunately I still have to occasionally work in the inner city. Watch your back and if it isn’t bolted down they’ll steal it.
BORN and raised in Milwaukee. It has really grown and the areas that used to be abandoned have been turned into flats. Definitely a big change. I love Milwaukee. I miss my hometown.
Yes and I think there is more to come! I am excited for the new lake front high rises, that will be another video this summer! Where do you live now?
@@MarcusMKE i live in Orlando now. I used to live on 4th and Walker and the surrounding area was a lot of factories.
@@esmseg1555 oh yes indeed! To make you feel better about Orlando: 35F, grey and windy today here...
@@MarcusMKE i was there about a month ago and it was below zero lol. I was freezing. Milwaukee has a big variety in hang out spots, the food selection is awesome lol. Summer is really the best time. The culture, family and friends is awesome. I miss that the most.
@@esmseg1555 that's brutal coming from FL! I have seen kids with shorts and t-shirts playing outside yesterday - in 50F weather! However, that is 50F more than we had during that arctic blast! Strangely the weather has a wired positive effect on people, how they interact, maybe that's why most are so friendly and helpful? Also people work a lot during the winter, not much else to do. And then in summer it feels everyone has so much social catching up to do, I love that! How to you handle summer in FL?
Just got home to Colorado from a weekend in Milwaukee - agree with the sign at the airport that Milwaukee is one of the most underrated cities. Absolutely loved it - I think I like it more than Madison.
I love Colorado and the Rockies in general, the one issue I have with Milwaukee is no mountains!! Madison is pretty cool, but I am definitely happy to be in Milwaukee.
Glad you chose Milwaukee, it's a Great city on a Great Lake. I like living here🌇😊
Well, I was a corporate relo from Austria at that time and Milwaukee was our HQ. Was not too excited about it in 2008, but now I love it! How did you end up here Donald?
@@MarcusMKE I grew up in a town 45 miles west from here called Watertown.😊🏳️🌈
@@donaldewert2402 it's nice out there! I have been out to Milford Hills for corporate events a few times.
@@MarcusMKE I subscribed to your channel to keep up with your doings. I am busy at nursing home. donaldewert585@gmail.com
@@donaldewert2402 I can imagine how that can keep one busy. Thanks for subscribing! Will email you!
I'm currently in France, been admitted to the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, I can't wait to come !!! So impatient!
Welcome to Milwaukee! You will have a great time here!
Undergraduate or Graduate student?
@@4seth Undergraduate 😇
I will be coming there this fall for graduate studies
You don't have to travel that far to go skiing. Just head out to West Bend or slinger there's plenty of hills north of Milwaukee.
You are right, but I've been spoled growing up near the alps. Skiing in Wisconsin feels like putting into a coffee mug in your office...
@@MarcusMKE ah. I can see what you mean. No comparison there then. 👍😬
Thinking about moving Milwaukee myself, good info!
I have to ask, Mike - where do you live now and why Milwaukee??
@@MarcusMKE
Hi Marcus! I currently live in Phoenix, AZ right now. I’m actually looking at either Milwaukee or Chicago. I like both. I really miss the Midwest and all four seasons. I also love Lake Michigan
I love spring and summer as much as the next guy, but there is something to be said about a full set of seasons. Even today with temperatures in the 30s we are looking forward to snow and beautiful winter days, eventually we will be very much looking forward to warmer weather, but the change is appealing. AZ starts to sound like a great idea every year in March.... We go to Chicago sometimes for the weekend, usually we stay within the loop and its a fantastic city, but a lot of IL residents contact me and eyeball Milwaukee - sales tax is 5% less, property taxes much lower, cost of living in general... And I am certainly bias, but I like the size of MKE: they call it a 20 min city for a reason.
@@MarcusMKE I moved to Wisconsin from Los Angeles in 2000 and currently living in Ozaukee County which is about 20 minutes drive from Downtown Milwaukee. Cost of living is much less than where I came from and Sale Tax is only 5.6%. If you are looking for tranquility, Ozaukee County is the best choice; four major areas like Mequon, Thiensville, Grafton or Cedarburg are the best choice. The only downsize is the winter which is very bloody cold, we don't get much snow like used to be. Two to three snow storm is typical every year.
@@Petlover10000 thats why I live in Mequon :-)
My sister is going to Milwaukee for college. She picked it over Chicago, New York and Boston.
Must have been a tough decision, those are all very attractive options! Is she moving this summer?
Who doesn't like Winter. I lived in Heidelberg, Germany, for 2 and one-half years, and when I had to return to the US, I wasn't happy. I lived in Phoenix, Arizona. That's one of the reasons I don't care too much for summer. Yes, it's a dry heat in Phoenix, but to me it's no different from any heat. A person dries out just as fast in that heat as anywhere! I have been thinking of Milwaukee and Houston, but the North is winning out! Thanks for a good video.
Hi Kenneth, nice - Heidelberg is not far from my home town, one of the best college towns! I wish the Milwaukee winter would be as short as they are in Germany: over in March! But I do love the change of seasons! Stay warm!
@@MarcusMKE I thought you had a German accent but then you mentioned Austria, another beautiful country. I like that party of Europe, although I have to admit that I liked all of Europe. Now that I'm retired I have thought about going back since I have German friends.
@@BpGregor you should! Chicago-Munich is a short 8 hour night flight! Hopefully flights will resume this summer! I would take a car, go to Heidelberg, then Salzburg, down to Italy and up through Switzerland. It's about as far as around Lake Michigan! You'll have a great time!!
@@MarcusMKE If I lived in Chicago I could do that. But I live in the Philippines and Europe is a little far.
The winter is so awesome everything about the winter is a experience I live in Milwaukee love city.
Thanks for you comments Felix! Where did you grow up? What is it for you about Milwaukee? I think other people love hearing the perspective of someone local...!
Thanks for the info. I am considering for myself if I should relocate there. I just think it’s a nice place, and it’s popular for concerts. Also the cost of living is cheaper than where I am from is another reason why I want to move.
I always ask people why they moved to MKE, it has not been a destination in the past. They say they like the vibe and the people. And yes, cost of living. Are you out on the coast?
@Nodin Elm okay thanks. My city is the same way, it’s just like Chicago. Sketchy as hell. 😢
Milwaukee may be flat, and Wisconsin doesn't have mountains, but it isn't flat. Drive through Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana.....you'll see how hilly Wisconsin is compared to surrounding states.
Especially the western part of Wisconsin is amazing and quite hilly. Here in Milwaukee I like the Holey Hill area, just a short drive and some great hikes through hilly forests - i am sure you are familiar with it!
@@MarcusMKE It certainly is not the Alps or the Rockies, but Granite Peak in Wausau and Cascade Mountain north of Madison are ok resort areas to practice skiing if you're looking for something to do in the winter.
Great overview of our charming city! We have lots of museums, family-friendly parks, public pools, Road America just to the north, and lots more to offer too!
Thanks Kerry! The list is long!
Moving there in December for my new job! Gonna miss Florida but I’m excited for the move.
Congratulations on the new job! That's how I got here and I was not a fan initially! But MKE has grown on my and we will stay here; however I do like FL for vacation!
Why change that warm weather for cold?
@@fastdeliveryl708Sink holes hurricanes tornados tsunamis bad weather horrible bugs non stop sweating sounds too much to me but idk I'm not from there but I think I need balance cold and hot
Much love to the City of Milwaukee. Great overview.
One of the better summaries I’ve seen! Fair points, both positive and negative.
Appreciate that Saughs, that's what I was going for! Do you live in the area?
I grew up in Milwaukee, but currently in the Madison area for work. I always miss the lake, the neighborhoods, the restaurants, etc., so luckily I’m still close enough to visit when I want. 👍
Has been below freezing since Feb.8 2021 to Feb 18 2021, have 22 inches of snow on the ground from two rather large snow events. SE Wisconsin has had very few short lived power outages (hours long), 5 days of parking restrictions (one side of road so plows can clear side streets and alleys), our roads are all plowed, salted and passable, our power grid works, our water is not frozen, our natural gas works. If your southern city is suffering power outages, if your water pipes are freezing, if your streets are impassable due to snow or ice, move here. Winter is not a problem and Spring, Summer and Fall are great.
You just nailed it Robert! Nothing to add. Mic drop.
Good job on the video Marcus. I reached out to you on bigger pockets a while back and you gave me some great advise about real estate Investing. Been building my real estate wholesaling business here in the Milwaukee area
I'll let you know since you've only been here 12 years, that spring wasn't always super short. It actually started around the time you got here but before that spring and fall used to be full seasons, now its like a week and then its 100 degrees, makes me sad lol but yeah, wasn't always that way in Wisconsin.
Wow. Just asked my wife, she without hesitation yes you are right! Maybe there is truth to that climate change thing...
Milwaukee is beautiful.
Well, I am not sure if I would make beautiful the first attribute (compared to some places out West in the mountains for example), it has its nice places and it is definitely growing on you when you live here! I love the lake and how green it is! And I do love the change of seasons. Milwaukee definitely has character and many fall in love with that! Also interesting, I know quite a few people that moved to CA and then came back!
It sure definitely is beautiful on all facets Milwaukee sure is a very beautiful City and landscape.
I’m looking to move from Chicago to Whitefish Bay next year at this time. My daughter will start first grade there. The public schools are amazing.
Hi Jessica! Chicago is Milwaukee's biggest relocation source! I should make a video specifically about this. Whitefish Bay is great, but there are also a few other interesting options! Do you have any flexibility in the timing? End of this year might be a better time...
@@MarcusMKE " End of this year might be a better time...."- may I ask why you say that?
@@ks-pv6it I suspected more inventory and lower level of competition, looks like that will be the case!
Super helpful video!!! I’ll be moving to Milwaukee July 2021 for a new job and I’m mainly thinking of the Historic Third Ward Neighborhood.
Congratulations on the new job! Third Ward has some awesome condos - we used to have one there and it is a great urban lifestyle right on the water. Check out Summerfest.com - I think it is the largest music festival in the world, top names - got covid canceled this year, but you'd be in walking distance from Third Ward. Where are you moving from?
@@MarcusMKE Thank you! I've heard a lot about Summerfest, So I hopefully things with Covid-19 settle down and I get a chance to attend someday. Im moving from the Metro Detroit area in Michigan so not too far from Wisconsin.
@@fquint6468 well, you are familiar with the midwest weather then! I think Detroit has been coming back in the last couple years.. the city has rezed entire blocks and gave them to the owners who still paid taxes. I think that was brilliant!
@@MarcusMKE Yes haha very familiar with the weather! And I totally agree, I was in Detroit a couple months ago and there are tons really nice new housing options there.
@@fquint6468 good - the weather is usually considered #1 concern. Knock on wood, we have not even had snow so far this year and 2 days ago we had 58F and sun ;-) If you want to read up on moving or buying a house feel free to download some of my pdf guides from our website OnPointRG.com
Love Milwaukee. Born, raised, left and came back for work. Full story should be told.
Welcome back home!
Never knew how beautiful it is.
Helpful, thank you!
Glad to hear! You'll find a lot more about Milwaukee on my channel and if any questions are still left unanswered, please let me know!
Milwaukee A Great Lakes City off the shore of Lake Michigan, it’s overall a great place to live and easy to raise children, people are still friendly and will say hello and excuse me- the freeways are beautiful $700 million went into it 10-15 years ago and it shows- you can get anywhere within 15-20 minutes from any direction- we have wonderful festivals, concerts, plays, restaurants and awesome suburbs, our winters are not as bad as when I was growing up a zillion years ago 😂 but our winters are much better- 3-4 inches- the streets are cleaned overnight and the sun seeps out in the morning- and we’re only 90 minutes from Chicago and 6 hours from Michigan- I will always Luv ❤ Milwaukee a true hidden Gem
could not have summarized it any better!
@@MarcusMKE Why thank you 🥰
really helpful, comprehensive video! Thanks!
Glad to hear - thank you! This is one of my older videos, you'll find some newer ones that are a bit more detailed. Are you thinking about visiting Milwaukee?
I am from Milwaukee Wisconsin born and raised in Milwaukee Wisconsin now lives in Palm springs CaliforniaI am also a full-blooded Green Bay packer fan for life go Packers I still miss the cold in the snow but I love it by being in Palm springs Californiathank you Michael principal in Palm springs California goes Green Bay Packers 12 - 3- 2021
Moving to Milwaukee huh? Sorry to hear that.
Milwaukee is underrated.
I would agree, but for everyone who does not live here: what makes you say that?
Dear Brother,
Thank you very much for your fàntastic video. Milwaukee is really stunning. Please upload videos showing beautiful restaurants, bars and pubs there.
Thank you very much for your nice video.
With lots of love and regards,
Jayantàda,
11/08/2021
Thanks Jayanta! In fact, that's already on my list of videos to shoot! Just takes some time. Next one is about downtown!
@@MarcusMKE Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
Stay connected and stay blessed.
Milwaukee isn't too bad. Its pretty much what Philly is to NYC, with a huge city like Chicago being just 1.5hr away.
Thanks for the comparison? I assume you live in MKE now? How do you compare it with Philly? What's better, what is worse?
Have you had issues with the civil unrest and riots?
Yes we have. I don't think we have seen as bad as some other cities in the last months that were in the news a lot, but we certainly have seen protests and also property damage like most cities with over a million people. I have not seen anything personally so don't know if I can answer your question objectively.
@@MarcusMKE Thank you for your response, I was just curious because I have been offered a position that has its office in East Town Milwaukee. I am trying to take all things into consideration before I accept.
@@lostincollegetown6068 that's a top address downtown. Check out crime maps on Trulia.com - Milwaukee has some inner city neighborhoods with economic challenges and elevated crime, but the vast majority of the metro area is actually very quiet.
@@MarcusMKE Awesome, thank you!
The hop shouldn't even be represented in public transportation. If you live here, there's no way you're going to use it. I know no one in the city who's actually used it. However, the bus system in Milwaukee is very good!! Also, Mequon is not Milwaukee, so I do not know why you believe making a video about Milwaukee is a very good idea when you don't actually have the same phone area code as anyone who lives in Milwaukee County??? I used to have a friend who lived in Mequon and life up there is very different from life in Milwaukee if I'm being honest. Also please talk about mentioning the parks system along the lakefront.
You are right about Mequon, it is quite different and takes about 20 minutes to get downtown. Thanks for commenting!
milwaukee not the only place to live in wisconsin
Is Milwaukee conducive to families of color? I am a professional and looking to live a quieter life with my family. I have heard tons of negatives for people of color moving to the Midwest.
So interesting. I'm looking to move to the states one day, not just yet as I'm finishing off my studies in the UK. I'm a music producer looking for an internship at a music studio. So anywhere with a good music presence would be perfect.
Maybe Nashville, TN?
Depends on what type of music
Wis is great imho. But Milw, never, crime is high, schools are terrible, the property taxes will make your eyes water. If your job is in the Milw area, go to Ozakee, Washington or Wauskesha Counties.
Hi Loren, thanks for your comment! You are talking about the City of Milwaukee and about MPS (Milwaukee Public Schools), and then within that like every city we do have some rough areas. There are the four surrounding counties you have mentioned, which are great, but even Milwaukee County has actually 19 municipalities and some are very nice with excellent schools, think Tosa or North Shore. However, also Milwaukee proper has it's nice pockets and schools are not important for everyone, Bayview is a good example for a very popular neighborhood.
I go to school here, a lot of the schools are pretty bad but there's some good ones still
Milwaukee has always been cool.
I have to admit, this was not my perception when I first moved to Milwaukee in 2007. My perspective is that Milwaukee started to change about 7 or 8 years ago and is gaining momentum every year since! There are still many, many challenges and opportunities, but things are definitely going in the right direction!
Thank you so much for this video I subscribed
Welcome and thanks for subscribing! Working on the next videos - what would you like to know more about?
Great info
Thanks Lee! There is so much to say about Milwaukee, I had to shorten it quite a bit. If you want more info about specific neighborhoods, you can find that on my channel as well! Let me know if there is something I should cover in my next videos!
Just have moved few months ago in Milwaukee.planning to settle with family.how is educational
We do have city busses
With $55K annual salary and having a family of 3. Is that good idea to relocate to menomonee falls? Can i save anything? How expensive sales tax and other tax when i file married filing jointly??
It should be okay, but in order to really answer that question, where are you moving from?
@@MarcusMKE California
@@rajdantani636 Wisconsin has a lower cost of living compared to CA for sure, everything from gas to groceries..
@@MarcusMKE great! I appreciate your feedback!
This was very helpful.
Great to hear! You might want to add a few % for inflation, especially for gas, but generally it should be still close enough!
No reviews on the Northwest side... how come? Too many reckless drivers!
Still a lot more videos to make .. and yes, reckless driving is a big issue
Great video! Thanks.
You're welcome!
You didnt talk about summerfest and all the festivals
I think one of the most interesting aspects of Milwaukee is the fact that it's the only major American city to have ever elected three socialist mayors.
Yeah and we were sooo close to have GERMAN as our official language! It's true, look it up!
Thank you. I'm moving to MCW for PhD. How is living in the vicinity of MCW?
Generally a very good area! You have many options, Wauwatosa is the obvious choice. Brookfield would be a bit more upscale and has a more suburban vibe, although close by. West Allis is a great choice if you like a lower price point. You could also house hack, meaning, buy a duplex and rent out the other half for income. See my house hacking series..
Subbed
welcome! hope you'll find the answers you are looking for on my channel, if not let me know, more videos to come!
where are you from tho?
Born and raised in Austria, Europe. I have been working in the US since about 2000 and when my company went through a merger they asked me to move her and help launch the new biz in the Americas.
Tell me what it’s like being a German speaker in a city with such a strong German history.
Very weird!! We have a lot of festivals like Irish Fest, Polish Fest and of course German Fest! German Fest to me (I am Austrian, so almost the same) feels like a twisted past time version of German culture. If you want to know how it feels, go to a Harley Davidson event in Germany - you see a bunch of German's dressed up in what they think Americans look like! LOL
On a more serious note, I recognize the culture in it's 2nd and 3rd generation: people do business with a handshake, work hard, are friendly, drink lots of beer...
@@MarcusMKE Although I live in Poland, my mother’s people go way back in Wisconsin. My great grandmother was born in the US, but was full blooded German and spoke German at home…even though it was her grandfather that came from Prussia when he was ten. He fought in an all German troop in the American Civil War. There is a book about this called Splendid Gallantry. It has a lot of Wisconsin history in it.
@@wonderwinder1 wow that is impressive! I have been told that German immigrants did not allow their kids to speak German at home in Milwaukee, we are Americans now, they said.
@@MarcusMKE I know there was a big Americanisation process that started at the beginning of Ww1
And Jobs???
Great question! I did not make it part of the video, because it always changes. Milwaukee doe snot have ONE big employer, we have a very diverse economy, many medium size players, some Fortune500. If you look at current unemployment rates (December 2020) we are about 2 for percentage points better than the national average. Cost of living is relatively low and employers compete for good employees; I know because I used to be on the hiring side when I was in corporate and it would take sometimes a half year to fill an engineering position or product management etc..)
This is a good question. How about construction? My husband works in house framing? We are in metro ATL now but would love to move up north so we are planning to visit soon!
@@viviannehernandez4515 construction is booming, so I assume good, but I don't have data specific for framers. Unemployment rate in Wisconsin peaked last year in April at 14.8%, as of Jan 2021 we were at 3.8% which is incredibly low and anything under 4% basically means full employment. Georgia is at 5.1% as of Jan/21. Link: www.bls.gov/eag/eag.wi.htm
@@MarcusMKE Thanks so much for the info! We hope to visit soon 😊
@@viviannehernandez4515 sounds good, send me an email when you are getting close: m.auerbach@kw.com
it caters to the rich, working class is pissed on , bad health insurance , most of the working class cannot afford to even pay for common dr.visits. plz show me i"m wrong.