Answering your Who, What, When, Where & Why's for Moving to Milwaukee

Where is Milwaukee?

Milwaukee is ideally located in the heart of the upper Midwest. Situated on the western shores of Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes, it is a 90-minute drive from downtown Chicago, a 5-hour drive from Minneapolis-St. Paul and Indianapolis, and slightly more than an hour away from Madison, the capital of Wisconsin. Wisconsin's Fabled North woods and Michigan's Upper Peninsula are just three hours away.

What is the weather like?

Lake Michigan, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, moderate temperatures in the Milwaukee area, taking the sizzle out of the summer sun and warming winter winds. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures range from an average high of 54 degrees (Fahrenheit) in the spring and 79 degrees in the summer to 59 degrees in the fall and 31 degrees in the winter. More than one-half of our days are sunny, which includes 90 days of where there are no clouds in the sky. That puts us on par with Indianapolis and Houston. 

On Average, we get 35 inches of rain, which is slightly below the national average, but plenty enough so that we don't have to worry about water. More importantly, we have fewer rainy days than most cities, including Miami, and of course, Seattle. We do get snow- about 53 inches per year, but that is actually less than you would expect for the Upper Midwest. Our location on the western side of Lake Michigan keeps snowfall totals well below northwestern Indiana and Western Michigan. 

What are the people like?

"Milwaukee is one of the friendliest cities."
–Travel & Leisure magazine

We're down-to-earth, hard-working and like to have fun. We're also an ethnic melting pot that celebrates our heritage every summer in a series of Lakefront festivals, including German Fest, Irish Fest, Indian Summer, Polish Fest and Festa Italiana. Most Milwaukeeans are American by birth, but they are proud of their cultural heritage and Milwaukee is proud to celebrate them in their own way. 

We are also a tolerant community. Milwaukee is home to a large and active LGBTQ community that offers support resources, film festivals and social events, including PrideFest Milwaukee, an annual there-day celebration held on Milwaukee's Lakefront.

What the heck is in Milwaukee?

With a vibrant downtown area, Milwaukee features a mix of restaurants, bars, sports venues, theaters, and neighborhoods. Milwaukee is known as the "Beer Capitol of the World" due to its many breweries, and is now a leader in the ever-evolving art of the craft brewing. Because of the abundance of breweries, Milwaukee is known for their great brewery tours. Major Breweries include MillerCoors, Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee Brewing Company, and Sprecher Brewing Company.

The Milwaukee Art Museum includes masterpieces by Rembrandt, Durer, Picasso and Warhol. The museum's stunning Calatrava-designed addition has added a dramatic architectural signature to the lakefront. 

A tradition of excellence in exhibits, education, collections and research has been the hallmark of the Milwaukee Public Museum since it was established in 1882.

The Milwaukee County Zoo is one of the top zoological parks in the country. The 200-acre park is known for its open concept, which simulates the animals' natural environments by using moats to separate predators from their prey. Its Aquatic & Reptile Center includes sharks and alligators, as well as more than 200 fish that are native to Wisconsin lakes. 

The Milwaukee Public Market is a unique downtown food, shopping and social nexus. Filled with unique selections of artisan and ethnic products, freshly made foods and eating areas, it is one of Milwaukee's premier destinations, attracting more than 1.7 million visitors per year. The Market also showcases a variety of cooking classes in the Madame Kuony Demonstration Kitchen. Instructors include Public Market vendors, local chefs and nationally known cookbook authors. Located in the Historic Third Ward, just south of downtown.

Bradford Beach is listed as one of the top 10 urban beaches on USA Today, this is a fun spot for young people to catch rays in the city. 

Why move to Milwaukee Now?

Milwaukee was recently named as an up-and-coming tech city by Forbes magazine. Milwaukee has become a preferred destination for social and energetic millennials. One reason is the beauty and abundance of natural resources in southeastern Wisconsin. Another reason is that Milwaukee has been a leader in creating walkable and sustainable communities.  Twenty years ago, the city began work on the Riverwalk which transformed the downtown and made it a hotbed of entertainment and downtown living opportunities. The momentum continues with the Milwaukee Bucks' new basketball arena, the Fiserv Forum, and surrounding entertainment area in the heart of downtown Milwaukee.