Living Here
Quality of Life
Affordability. Access. Ease.
What makes Milwaukee such a great place to live? It's the communities of the metropolitan area, each of which offers a quality of life that can’t be beat. Looking for an urban setting that’s close to downtown or a rural outpost where you can enjoy nature? Others may say it, but we mean it - there is something for everyone here.
Median home sales price
Median gross rent
Minutes is the average commute time
"In recent years, when I tell others that I’m from Milwaukee, I’m surprised by how many respond by saying they had recently visited. Virtually all of them tell me they loved the city, and I can tell by the shock in their voices that every single one of them was surprised they had such a great time.”
CASSANDRA BROOKLYN
Cost of living
Milwaukee’s cost of living is slightly below the U.S. city average and ranks significantly lower than many major metropolitan areas, including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis/St. Paul.
According to the ACCRA cost-of-living index, $100,000 in living costs in Milwaukee would equal:
- $155,000 in Boston
- $127,000 in Chicago
- $117,000 in Denver
- $109,000 in Minneapolis/St. Paul
- $138,000 in Portland
- $200,000 in San Francisco
Best Places to Live rankings
To get a flavor for the Milwaukee metro area’s variety of neighborhoods, Niche publishes a Best Places to Live ranking that provides a comprehensive assessment of the overall livability of area communities, considering several key factors, including:
- Quality of local schools
- Crime rates
- Housing trends
- Employment statistics
- Access to amenities
Check out those that received A+ ratings below.
Niche’s 2023 Best Places to Live in Wisconsin
| Community | Overall Rating | Population | Public Schools | Housing | Good for families | Crime & Safety | Nightlife | Diversity |
| Brookfield | A+ | 41,020 | A+ | A- | A+ | B | A | B |
| Shorewood | A+ | 13,734 | A+ | B | A+ | B- | A | B+ |
| Whitefish Bay | A+ | 14,818 | A+ | A- | A+ | B | A- | B |
| Mequon | A+ | 24,814 | A+ | A- | A+ | B | B+ | B- |
| Elm Grove | A+ | 6,456 | A+ | B+ | A+ | B | A | B |
| Thiensville | A+ | 3,284 | A+ | A | A+ | A | A- | B |
| River Hills | ||||||||
| Fox Point | ||||||||
| Bayside | ||||||||
| Nashotah | ||||||||
| Wauwatosa | ||||||||
| Cedarburg | ||||||||
| Wind Point | ||||||||
| Sussex |
Quality education
If you’re looking for quality education, you couldn’t come to a better place. Our high school students consistently outperform the national average on the ACT test and regularly rank near the top nationally on the college entrance exam.
Niche A+ Rated Schools in SE Wisconsin
| 1. Cedarburg High School 2. Homestead High School 3. University School Milwaukee K12 4. Nicolet High School 5. Whitefish Bay High School 6. Whitefish Bay Middle School 7. Shorewood High School 8. Lake Bluff Elementary School 9. Divine Savior High School 10. Marquette High School 11. Brookfield Academy K12 12. Brookfield Elementary School 13. Brookfield East High School 14. Brookfield Central High School 15. Wisconsin Hills Middle School 16. Tonawanda Elementary School 17. Catholic Memorial High School |
18. Dixon Elementary School 19. Pilgrim Park Middle School 20. Swanson Elementary School 21. Pewaukee High School 22. Arrowhead High School 23. The Prairie School K12 24. Muskego Lakes Middle School 25. Greendale High School 26. College Park Elementary School 27. Lakeview Technology Academy 28. Swallow Elementary School 29. North Lake Elementary School 30. Lake Country Elementary/Middle School 31. University Lake School K12 32. Marcy Elementary School 33. Health Sciences High School |
Greater Milwaukee Relocation Guide
Discover Milwaukeeis a collaborative effort between the many professionals ready to assist you with your move and welcome to the Milwaukee Region.
It includes detailed information on schools, communities, home prices and more. Order a hard copy or have new employees visit their website.