Milwaukee Area Moms--need Advise on Moving!!!

Hi K.,

Congratulations on the job offer. We were just in the same boat! We moved last summer from Palatine to Oak Creek-S of Mil. You would be n of the city. I hate to say it, but maybe you should scope out the area first, living inn a temporary place for a year or so. I don't know much about that area, but I think i's nice. Around here, there are a lot of old neighborhoods, but also newer subdivisions, then there are city blocks, as well as big open yards. It depends what you like.

Would this job offer relocation services? I would start by doing a wikipedia search, and then search the housing market, and then come and spend time driving around the area. What county do you want to live in? Out to the west, there seems to be everything, as well as in the city. If I can answer any other questions, please let me know! Good luck!!!!

Milwaukee Maagazine, just a couple of months ago, did a story on best suburbs based on all kinds of factors. Could be worth looking to for information. Overall, you're good with Brookfield/Elm Grove, Mequon, Shorewood/Whitefish Bay, those general areas. Waukesha schools used to be great, but they have definitely gone downhill. Those areas I mentioned are often times pretty well-to-do areas, so you'd have to do some scoping if you wanted to really find a steal of a house. In any case, congratulations on the job offer! Not easy to come by right now. Good luck!

Hi K. & Welcome to Wisconsin. My family and I have lived in Whitefish Bay for almost 6 years and absolutely love it! The schools are fantastic, always at the top of the states list! There aren't many rentals accept for the Bay Village Townhomes, I think you can find them online, and the houses are pricey but it is a fantastic family community. I drive to Menomonee Falls about once a month for shopping. It isn't a bad drive at all! Best of luck to you and your family!

Hi K.,

Congrats and welcome to WI! I live in Germantown, which is just outside of Menomonee Falls and I just love it. While our daughter is still too young for school, from what I've seen and heard so far the schools here have great ratings. Check out the site www.greatschools.org. You can actually look at ratings for any school. You can also check out the Germantown website at: http://www.village.germantown.wi.us/. Germantown is in Washington County, so the taxes are fairly decent, compared to Milwaukee County. We own a duplex in Milwaukee also and compared to what we pay for taxes on our home in Germantown, its crazy! Menomonee Falls is actually in Waukesha County and think the taxes there are just as good. The Menomonee Falls website is: http://www.menomonee-falls.org/ Either suburb is real nice. We almost bought a house in the Falls, but someone beat us to making an offer. I like that we are in the burbs, but close enough to Milwaukee. Hope these suggestions help! Lots of luck to you!!

I am thinking to look into Sussex which is in Waukesha County. Menomonee Falls is in Milwaukee county and property and sales taxes are higher. Schools are good out that way. You will need to figure out what is more important to you....small vs big schools.......school with a lot of extra curricular activites or maybe not as many.....etc. Good luck.

Try Brookfield, Sussex or Mequon. Milwaukee has horrible schools - I know because DH is a firefighter for the city & we have to live here. I would rent first to get the flavor of the area - they're all different. They're also more suburban, so if you like city feel and convenience try Shorewood & Wauwatosa.

The falls is a great place and north and east of there are: Germantown, Jackson, Richfield, Colgate.

All small towns around Meno Falls, good schools out there as well.

They are right you dont want to move to Milwaukee, stay out in the burbs, good luck and happy moving. You will love it here.

I live in Germantown (borders Menomonee Falls to the north) there are many great options within 30 minutes....even 15 minutes. Menomonee Falls is great in itself, and we've been in Germantown since 1996 and love it. (When we moved here from Oregon we looked for homes in both Gtown and MF - ended up in Gtown cuz we got outbid on the house we wanted in MF!) I think Gtown is about half the size of MF (18,000ish vs 35,000ish) if that makes you lean one way or the other. Lots of great housing - we're in a newer subdivision with half acre lots - there's plenty like that around. If you want to be out a little further or have more space (larger homes and yards), Richfield, Hubertus, and Jackson are all growing areas to the north and west. We like the Gtown public schools a lot, and there are also multiple private school options. I think all of the schools in the area northwest of Milwaukee are good. We're about 30 minutes from the airport and from downtown. Hope that helps. Good luck with your decision!