Milwaukee is much nicer than people give it credit - 5/18/2007

I can't believe all the negative comments I've read about Milwaukee. Having been born and bred in the North Shore, but spending my most recent years in Prague, Czech Republic, Tidewater Virginia, and Washington, D.C., Milwaukee is far and away the best place I have lived yet. The park system is excellent, the arts scene is improving, and the education system (outside of MPS) is far better than comparable school districts in far wealthier, "better educated" areas like Washington (and the DC public schools are far worse than even the much-maligned MPS). Finally, housing is actually affordable, something you won't find in more "interesting" cities on the East or West Coasts. If I could find a comparable job in Milwaukee, I would move back in a heartbeat. My advice to anyone moving to Milwaukee is to look on the near North side or in the North Shore suburbs. I love the Lakefront, the neighborhoods around East North Ave. and Brady Steet, and the easy access to downtown jobs. In addition, the North Shore schools are among the best statewide.

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Milwaukee - 4/7/2007

Milwaukee is one of the best cities in America. So close to Chicago and Madison with a rich history and a vibrant Downtown. Check out the Third Ward neighborhood and the new Milwaukee Public Market. A true real city.

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Milwaukee, a great place to love. - 3/23/2007

Great opportunities to see and enjoy. Museums, live performances, live music, theatre. The lakefront offers a host of on or off water recreation.

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I agree with the comments of others here - 3/16/2007

I was born and raised in Milwaukee and lived away from Milwaukee long enough to have a good understanding of the problems. Primarily, it is these issues: 1) Declining jobs. Businesses are leaving due to high costs and taxes. High taxes provides no real attraction to establish here. 2) A -2.02 % growth means more of us are left to the burden of taxes. I sold my home in Virginia Beach back in 1988 for $73,500. I bought a home here for $43,900. My house payment increased by $200.00/month. The difference was taxes, and now they want to sell the airport because they can't come up with the money to maintain it. 3)The crime rates are ridiculous. It saddens me to see students at my high School alma mater fighting at the end of a basketball game. Our institutions of education have to be more secure and have the same type of security as most state prisons. 4) To pay those taxes, it takes two adults in a low income household working two jobs just to break even. This means their kids are unsupervised and letting the dope dealers educate their kids. 5) My tax dollars are putting diesel fuel in buses instead of building up neighborhood schools in the community. Kids can walk to school again and parents have a vested interest in being involved in PTA, neighborhood and school social activities. Milwaukee is still a Great Place on a Great Lake. Win or lose I love the Bucks, Brewers, Wave and the Packers. It has great future potential. Until the racial divide and partison politics goes and these core issues are addressed. It's not going to get better.

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I agree with Nancy........ - 3/7/2007

I have just recently moved back to Milwaukee from Idaho to be with my aging mother. I must say that I am slowly becoming disillusioned with Milwaukee. Although there are some nice things and beautiful scenery in and around the outskirts....Milwaukee itself leaves me feeling somewhat depressed. There are areas of the city that lend a "gloomy" feeling and once you have passed through into the better more upbeat areas you find yourself sighing and glad you are out. I am already thinking about relocating.....I do love the state of Wisconsin....maybe I'll stay here....but as for Milwaukee, I think I am slowly getting my fill. I have run into some friendly people, but on the average, most people are cold, selfish, judgemental and "seem" to be unconcerned with what is going on around them. I hope I'm wrong. Nancy is right.......We all need more of the Lord Jesus Christ in our cities and in our lives. Until we include him and seek him, our cities, government and lives will continue to decline.

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Beauty is only skin deep. - 3/1/2007

I have lived in Milwaukee all of my life. It is beautiful but has an eroding park system. The lake front is pleasant but residents have not been able to swim in Lake Michigan due to it's hazardous water quality. The Museums are adequate but not without logistical difficulties. Mass transit is inadequate. The largest indoor shopping mall has serious violence problems. This relates directly to the fact that the community has a deadly black-on-black inner city violence problems. Hardly a weekend passes in which a African-American death does not occur. This nationally recognized issue is largely ignored by all factions of community leadership. This pains me as a I believe this city can be more than this. Milwaukee has a large insurance and service based industry. The ability of philanthropists to give back to the communty is impressive for a city of this size. To paraphrase Sir Thomas Overbury in Milwaukee beauty is only skin deep.

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Suburbs are good. - 2/26/2007

I just wanted to write something for all those who will be moving to Milwaukee because they have to or even decide to. All the negative things you have read about Milwaukee are actually pretty much right on the money. (Although I do believe the police are by and large good --just some bad seeds.) Don’t worry though. The suburbs are very nice. I would definitely recommend staying out of the actual City of Milwaukee all together, but some of you might have to abide by the residency requirement for your employment, might even chose to do so, or feel there are no other choices due to your race. If you do decide to reside in the city, you cannot send your children to the public schools, or even charter schools. Your children will have to go to expensive private schools, possibly choice schools if you are chosen, even in elementary education. If you live in any of the surrounding cities, the schools are just fine. As some stated earlier, the city of Milwaukee is literally divided racially. Generally, African Americans on the north side while Whites and Hispanics are on the south side of Interstate 94. Stay to the edges of the city, either north or south and you will likely be in a very safe area. The rest of Milwaukee County is pretty much working class simple Caucasian people, with the exception of by Lake Michigan in which they are more financially set. As I stated before though, the suburbs are great…that is if you are Caucasian. Every single suburb is definitely all white people, and African Americans will certainly feel like they completely stand out. I am sure this excerpt seems racially offensive, but this is just the truth of how Milwaukee is. Yes, we are looking at this website to relocate also. This is after nearly seventeen years in Milwaukee and the outlying areas. We just can’t take the long cold winters anymore.

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Moving to Mil, WI - 2/6/2007

In the past few years Milwaukee's winters have been mild but occassionally the weather may pull a fast one on you and get 0 below temperatures.

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Property Taxes are high. - 1/18/2007

You can find fairly cheap houses that are decent in the city but no matter where you go in Milwaukee County, the property taxes are extremely high, even for Wisconsin (which has high property taxes in general).

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it's not that bad here - 1/18/2007

I think people get the false impression that this is one of the highest crime cities. Is it the most safe city in the country? .. no, but if you look at the crime data is even better than that of Minneapolis which is suppose to be the shining gem of the Midwest. I think the media here just takes one crime and talks about it over and over again until everyone things people are just getting killed and robbed every minute in Milwaukee.

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A city in decay - 12/13/2006

I have lived in Milwaukee over 30 years. I am well travel and relocated here when I married my wife whom is from Pennsylvania. Milwaukee is in a state of decay due to liberal socialist politics which created a welfare magnet in the 1950 thru the late 70’s. Although direct cash welfare is gone those persons drawn here and their descendent have become the needy base of the population. The local property tax combined with the State income tax means you will be working half the year to support those persons and the government employees who have excellent salaries and benefits. If you have children plan to sent them to private schools. The teachers union here is only interested in the teachers and what they can make. The dropout rate is near 40% for highschool students. The surrounding area is naturally beautiful. Milwaukee is located on Lake Michigan, surrounded by excellent county and private golf courses and numerous parks. Residents are within an hour’s drive thru farms and forest to many natural recourses for fishing,hiking,hunting,water sports and amusements parks.

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To Stay Alive....I Had To Move!!!! - 12/8/2006

I'm 21 years old and that city is a mess. I was born and raised in milwaukee and we had to , me and my brother , had to fight kids our age every day just to go to school in high school.My grandmother couldn't go outside to get mail without being harrassed by thugs.my cousin was killed and my uncle was murdered in the same year...I HAD TO GO!!!!. I moved to Phoenix,Arizona almost a year ago and it wwas the best thing i every did.My Whole Family Is Here mom Grandma,Uncles, Aunts, Brothers, Sisters, Newphews, Great Aunts & Uncles, Every body over a 3 year time period left that horrable place.The city used to be a place of pride for me, but it has become a place i don't even know anymore. it changed from when I was in middle school, thats a lot of change in a short time.Milwaukee cause me a lot of pain, i've been to 9 funarals in a 5 year time period!!!. if you want a future for you or your family...DO NOT MOVE HERE!!! I WOUNLDN'T SEND SOMEONE I HATE THERE!!!

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not a nice city - 10/4/2006

I've been a resident of Milwaukee for 28 years, and the city is declining. The crime rates are increasing, and the this is a city seperated by race. The education system is declining, and the politicians are arguing over a mono-rail system and renovations on the Bradley Center(where the Bucks play). Jobs are becoming scare and the winter season is brutal. The best thing about Milwaukee is there festivals during the summer. I will be relocating my family to Charlotte, so that we can jump on a the bandwagon of a growing, more up-tempo city.

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It's a Great City - 9/20/2006

Milwaukee is really a very nice city , Great Universities , Beaches , Jobs and a friendly atmosphere. An International Airport that will take you any place in the World . Lots of interesting things to do and great shopping and Great Resturants. Milwaukee is also a very REASONABLE place to live , with good Job Growth .

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Lived in Milwaukee my whole life, wanting to reloc - 9/20/2006

I'm 25 years old and have lived in Milwaukee my entire life. As a gay man, Milwaukee doesn't offer alot. The city itself is pretty racially segregated into neighborhoods. While the price of homes is reasonable compared to other cities, the property taxes will kill you. Milwaukee does have 4 distinct seasons, which is only found in a few areas in the country. The summers are hot and humid and the winters are cold and try. It rarely ever snows more than 8-10 inches at a time and it doesn't stay around long. Milwaukee does have a sense of culture, which is found in our wonderful selection of restaurants as well as our festivals and events that go on. The downtown area is pathetic compared to other cities. If you go out at night, you will find the downtown area strangely empty, unless there is an event going on. There are several reasons why I've decided to leave Milwaukee. If you're a young and single gay guy, you'd best look elsewhere such as Chicago. If you're a single straight guy or girl, then it might not be so bad. People here are friendly most of the time, but not as friendly as other parts of the midwest. The crime rate is relatively low and the unemployment rate is average for a city this size. All in all, Milwaukee is a place that I will always call home. But, after living in the same boring area for 25 years, a change of scenery is well overdue.

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Milwaukee Wisconsin - 9/18/2006

Milwaukee is a small blue collar city but it is slowly modernizing. Everyone likes to drink so there is a bar practically on every corner. Very cultured with all the ethnic festivals that take place down by the lake front. Great city to live in especially if you find Chicago to be overwhelming.

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Why I'm leaving Milwaukee!!! - 8/5/2006

I have lived in Milwaukee my entire life, and I'm really sad with the direction the city is taking. Although, Milwaukee has a rich culture, it is very segregated. The school system is so bad I have been homeschooling my children. The wages are low here, and most jobs have no room for advancement. Milwaukee is not a place to raise a family let alone a dog. The people here are not friendly, and will stare you up and down and wont even speak. It really hurts that I place I once loved and adored, I sometimes find myself hating. The crime rate is soaring, the drop out rate is higher than the national average, and it is a cool thing not to go to school. The suburbs are nice for the most part, but they are very racist. I'm moving because I have not ever met so many cold hearted people in my life. I hope one day Milwaukee will find Christ, because it sure needs him.

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It's extremely hard to find an affordable home in - 7/8/2006

We've been house hunting for months and if you don't want to spend over $225,000, it's extremely hard to find a decent home in a safe neighborhood!

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Post Secondary Education - 6/24/2006

I think that Milwaukee is a great place for post secondary education. There are lots of private colleges and public colleges to choose from and many of them have great weekend and online option. For families : I would be prepared to provide a private education for my children for primary and secondary school. There are really only three or four decent high schools in the area and they are becoming increasingly more difficult to get into, and their track record is faltering.

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Milwaukee: Pros and Cons - 6/19/2006

I lived in Milwaukee for 7 yrs, so I can see the pros and cons about the city. Pros: Great diversity of restaurants, excellent fests, some nice parks, 2 nice museums, a nice baseball stadium and Brady Street has some very ecletic shops. Cons..The weather is very humid in summer and unrelentigly cold and windy in the winter. Most of the people are uncultured and can only hold a conversation if it revolves around the Packers. The city is polarized along racial lines. The downtown closes early, like a small town.The city is plagued by lousy roads that never seem to ever get fixed satisfactorily. The city has an awful job market. Most of the people are rude and lack manners. The people by in large are set in their ways. Milwaukee is stuck in a time warp many of the people act like they are in the 1950's. The city has a ton of HS dropouts, more than many major cities. Milwaukee strives to be progressive like Chicago, its not. The city has a very high crime rate. Milwaukee has very high property taxes.

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