Relocation Guide 2019-2020

W aukesha County, located just to the west of Milwaukee County, offers a perfect blend of urban and rural living. On its eastern edge are the populous – and prosperous – suburbs of Brookfield, Elm Grove, New Berlin, Menomonee Falls and Muskego. This is a rapidly growing area for upscale, residential subdivisions , with some of the wealthiest ZIP codes in the metropolitan area. Waukesha, the county seat, is a thriving community in its own right and one of the larger cities in the metropolitan area with a population of 71,550 people. Northwestern Waukesha County is known as “ Lake Country ” because of the dozens of sparkling lakes that were carved out by glaciers 15,000 years ago. This has long been a summer getaway for well-heeled Chicago and Milwaukee residents, but the area’s scenic beauty has made it a popular location for year- round homes as well. Southern Waukesha County is equally appealing for its natural beauty, but it is much quieter and less travelled. The southern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest offers excellent hiking and mountain biking trails around lightly forested lakes, hills and ridges. Other attractions include the Vernon Marsh Wildlife Area , a 4,500-acre wetland area along the Fox River near Big Bend and Mukwonago, and Big Muskego Lake , located in the southeastern corner of the county. Waukesha Although Waukesha is just a half-hour drive from downtown Milwaukee, it often seems like it’s a world away. Life is slightly slower here, although Waukesha does offer many big-city amenities, including the Waukesha Choral Union , the Wisconsin Philharmonic and the Waukesha Civic Theatre . Waukesha is one of the area’s older cities. Its streets were built on the well-worn paths of early Native American inhabitants who converged at a place called “ Five Points ” in the city’s center. In the late 1800s, Waukesha’s natural spring water transformed it into a resort town that attracted people from around the country, including Mrs. Abraham Lincoln and President Ulysses S. Grant. Many landmarks of that era remain, including the spring house located at “Five Points.” There have been several recent developments along the Fox River in Waukesha, including a new riverwalk and park areas. Elm Grove The village of Elm Grove is a quaint, secluded community that features some of the more beautiful homes in the Milwaukee area. Less than 4.5 miles square, the entire village has been designated as a bird sanctuary , which adds to its bucolic atmosphere. Completely surrounded by the cities of Brookfield and Wauwatosa and conveniently located in the center of the metropolitan area, Elm Grove boasts one of the area’s highest median home values. 67 67 67 83 83 16 18 18 18 59 59 59 59 99 74 F 164 164 190 175 Oconomowoc Lac La Belle Chenequa Hartland Nashotah Delafield Lannon Butler Pewaukee Sussex Dousman Wales Waukesha North Prairie Eagle Mukwonago Brookfield Elm Grove New Berlin Muskego Big Bend Menomonee Falls 3 miles N 94 43 Merton POPULATION: 398,236 COUNTY SEAT: Waukesha WAUKESHA ci.waukesha.wi.us Schools: Waukesha 35 minutes 20 miles $249,000 $19.44 MUNICIPALITY Website Median 2018 Home Sales Price Tax Rate Median Income Population $61,380 71,550 Time to Airport Miles to Downtown ELM GROVE elmgrovewi.org Schools: Elmbrook 25 minutes 10 miles $499,000 $16.72 MUNICIPALITY Website Median 2018 Home Sales Price Tax Rate Median Income Population $113,750 5,903 Time to Airport Miles to Downtown W A U K E S H A C O U N T Y Suburban Living & Lake Country waukesha county 74 YOUR RELOCATION RESOURCE