Suburbs of Greater Milwaukee
Before you ponder issues such as condo vs. house and three bedrooms vs. five, deciding exactly where to live is one of the first steps in searching for homes in Milwaukee. Greater Milwaukee boasts a variety of suburbs to choose from, ranging from bustling urban neighborhoods and upscale lakeshore communities to rural, all-American towns and villages. Taking the time to familiarize yourself with the suburbs of Milwaukee will narrow the search and help you easily find your little piece of utopia in this growing Midwestern city.
North Milwaukee Suburbs
Milwaukee’s North Shore region is one of the most desirable residential areas in the city, not only because of its close proximity to downtown Milwaukee and easy access to Lake Michigan recreation, but also because it offers a wide mix of housing that includes rural estates and million dollar lakeshore properties, as well as more modest neighborhoods perfect for young families. The North Shore suburbs of Milwaukee include Brown Deer, River Hills, Bayside, Foxpoint, Glendale, Whitefish Bay, and Shorewood. Three points of pride in this region are Brown Deer’s nationally-recognized public golf course, Whitefish Bay’s East Silver Spring Drive shopping district, and Fox Point’s Schlitz Audubon Center, which boasts 187 acres of natural meadows, ponds, woods and Lake Michigan coastline.
West Milwaukee Suburbs
While it cannot include lakefront properties among its list of virtues, Milwaukee’s western sector offers its own list of attributes that attract the attention of many Milwaukee homebuyers. From eating elephant ears at the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis to taking in a ballgame at Miller Park—home of MLB’s Milwaukee Brewers—residents of the city’s western suburbs enjoy all the good things in life, but they also reap the benefits of being close to work. West Milwaukee is currently undergoing much commercial development, and the suburb of Wauwatosa boasts the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center—a major employer that is home to two leading hospitals and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Southwest Milwaukee Suburbs
The Southwest Milwaukee Suburbs of Greenfield, Hales Corners, Greendale, and Franklin offer a little something for every Milwaukee homebuyer. Partly rural and partly urban, Milwaukee’s Southwest suburbs contain many brand new residential developments as well as older, more established neighborhoods, such as Greendale, built in the 1930’s to model an English garden town. Southwest Milwaukee’s biggest attraction is its large number of parks and green spaces; in fact, the region is home to the Root River Parkway, Whitnall Park and Golf Course, the Boerner Botanical Gardens, and the Wehr Nature Center.
South Milwaukee Suburbs
Among its many attributes, the South Milwaukee region boasts quiet, clean neighborhoods, easy access to I-94 and the General Mitchell International Airport, and miles of gorgeous Lake Michigan shoreline. The communities of St. Francis, Cudahy, and South Milwaukee, all stemming from early 19th century industrial parks, possess an old-world atmosphere while offering new and exciting residential developments. St. Francis, for example, saw the recent addition of a lakeshore condominium and townhouse project that has brought it up to par with the chic North Shore. The city of Oak Creek, the largest of the South Shore suburbs, is a desirable residential locale for growing families because it offers more than 22 neighborhoods and 24 playgrounds and parks.
