Question 1

How far are commutes from neighboring communities?

Accepted Answer

Easy & Accessible
Milwaukee is an easy city to get around. The metro area boasts one of the best commute times in the country – 22 minutes each way – meaning that residents don’t spend their days driving to and from work. That will become important as offices return to normal. Parking is seldom a problem, which reduces the stress of running errands. And if you don’t feel like driving, the city is known for its walkable neighborhoods. You can also jump on The Hop, the city’s electric streetcar.

Traffic Patterns
Milwaukee enjoys one of the shortest commute times of any urban area, but it is not immune to traffic congestion. Peak rush hour times are between 7 and 8:30 a.m. for traffic headed into the city and from 4 to 5:30 p.m. for traffic leaving downtown. While traffic usually maintains an even flow, there are several congestion points:

The Marquette Interchange (I-94 and I-43 downtown)
The Stadium Interchange (U.S. 41 and I-94, five miles west of downtown)
The Zoo Interchange (I-894 and I-94, eight miles west of downtown)
The Hale Interchange (I-894 and I-43, eleven miles southwest of downtown)
The Layton Interchange (I-894 and I-94, five miles south of downtown) 
Keeping these congestion points in mind during peak traffic times will make the search for your new home as stress-free as possible.

Question 2

What does the education system look like in the Milwaukee area?

Accepted Answer

Wisconsin schools have consistently been ranked among the best in the nation even though they spend less per pupil than most urban areas. Wisconsin's public-school open enrollment allows parents to send their children to any public school district in the state, provided the school district they select has openings for open enrollment students. In addition to excellent public schools, the Milwaukee region is home to many privately run elementary and secondary schools. Many are church-affiliated, but there are several that are not.

Southeastern Wisconsin also offers a wealth of higher education opportunities. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has more than 24,000 students in more than 200 different undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Marquette University offers over 11,300 students a wide array of academic choices and nearly 80 majors through its nationally recognized colleges and schools. Nearly 2,600 students attend the Milwaukee School of Engineering, a private college with strong ties to the business community. There are more than a dozen other four-year universities or colleges in the region, including Alverno College, Mount Mary University, Concordia University Wisconsin, Cardinal Stritch University, and Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Question 3

What is the cost of living?

Accepted Answer

Milwaukee's housing expenses are about the same as the national average and the utility prices are 8% higher than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 7% lower than the national average. Milwaukee has grocery prices that are 3% lower than the national average.

Find out more on Milwaukee's cost of living here!

Question 4

What is the weather like year round?

Accepted Answer

Michigan moderates temperatures along the lakeshore, making it slightly cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

There are typically only seven days per year when the temperature is 90 degrees or higher. 313 days per year are above freezing (32 degrees), with an average winter temperature of 31 degrees. The average daily temperature is 78 degrees in the summer, which is perfect for sailing on the lake, playing golf or attending one of the area’s many outdoor festivals. July is the sunniest month, with 66 percent of the days bathed in sunshine.

Spring paints the landscape emerald green; fall is a kaleidoscope of colors as trees make way for winter. The average daily temperature in spring is 55 degrees; in the fall, it is 60 degrees. Winter brings about 47 inches of snow, just enough to turn the region into a winter wonderland and offer opportunities for skiing and snowmobiling.

Question 5

What does the housing market look like?

Accepted Answer

Milwaukee is a city in Wisconsin and consists of 174 neighborhoods. There are over 1,700 homes for sale, ranging from $300,000 to $8,000,000.

Median listing home price: $189.9K
Median listing home price/Sq ft: $146
Median sold home price: $218K

Learn more about the real estate market in Milwaukee here!

Question 6

Does downtown offer good public transport?

Accepted Answer

Find out about public transportation in Downtown Milwaukee here!

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