12 Best Neighborhoods in Milwaukee for Your Move to Brew City
Milwaukee Wisconsin
Whether you’re moving to Milwaukee to experience the lively city or you’re searching for a serene view of Lake Michigan, you’ll need to find the perfect place to land. But before we jump into our list, here are a few things you should know about the best Milwaukee neighborhoods.
Best Neighborhoods in Milwaukee — FAQs
Q: What is the nicest area of Milwaukee?
A: Bordered by both Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee River, Lower East Side is considered one of the liveliest and nicest parts of Milwaukee.
Q: What are the wealthiest parts of Milwaukee?
A: If you’re wondering, “Where do wealthy people live in Milwaukee?” The Historic Third Ward and Downer Woods neighborhoods are the first and second most expensive neighborhoods in Milwaukee, based on cost of living, which is 34% higher than the city overall.
Q: What is the most diverse neighborhood in Milwaukee?
A: Milwaukee is considered one of the most diverse cities in the state of Wisconsin, with Walker’s Point, in particular, being noted for its accepting and vibrant LGBTQ+ nightlife scene.
12 Best Neighborhoods in Milwaukee
Whether you’re retired, raising a family, or just starting out as a young professional, there’s a place in Milwaukee for everyone. Without further ado, here are our picks for the 12 best neighborhoods in Milwaukee to call home.
The Historic Third Ward is one of Milwaukee’s best neighborhoods for viewing art, shopping, and walking along the scenic riverwalk — it doesn’t get much better.
1. Historic Third Ward
- Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,775
- Average home value: $477,900
- Great for: Art, restaurants, festivals, young professionals
The Historic Third Ward District of downtown Milwaukee is home to art galleries, trendy stores, and stylish eateries. If you’re craving local food and drink, head to the Milwaukee Public Market, which features a wide range of culinary establishments, including cheesemakers, olive oil distributors, candy shops, wine shops, and spice stores.
The Third Ward is typically quiet during the evening, though it brightens up as summer approaches. The nearby Henry Maier Festival Park hosts various cultural, food, and ethnic festivals during the warmer months. Even if you're not a festival goer, you can still hear music playing in the area.
2. Juneau Town
- Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,775
- Average home value: $351,700
- Great for: Parks, art, young professionals, retirees, families
Located in the heart of Downtown Milwaukee, Juneau Town is known as the area's most walkable community. With tons of green space among the high-rises, this neighborhood provides the perfect mix of urban and suburban living.
Those who live in Juneau Town have easy access to various places to eat, drink, and study, with top-rated institutions like the Milwaukee School of Engineering nearby. It's a great place to retire, start a career, or raise a family. In fact, Niche ranks it 11th among the best Milwaukee neighborhoods to raise a family, and the #1 best for young professionals.
The Marcus Performing Arts Center is a great venue to visit and watch various performances. You should also check out the Milwaukee Ballet and Florentine Opera, along with the Milwaukee Art Museum that contains over 30,000 works.
3. Northpoint
- Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,750
- Average home value: $539,800
- Great for: Shopping, walkability, beach, golfing, young professionals, retirees
Northpoint is one of the best places to live in Milwaukee if you’re looking for a neighborhood with a friendly vibe, lake views, and tree-lined streets. It’s about 10 minutes from Westown and is close to the city center, so you can enjoy great shopping and entertainment.
The area has plenty of outdoor spaces to explore, from the Lake Park Golf Course to Bradford Beach. Fun fact: Bradford Beach is one of the most accessible beaches in the U.S., thanks to the 100-foot concrete ramp that leads to the shore and the beach wheelchairs available for use, which roll across the sand with ease.
Northpoint is named after North Point Water Tower — a Victorian-style 175-foot decorative tower. With an average home value of around $539,800, the neighborhood comprises a variety of housing options, including everything from single-family homes to Victorian mansions.
It’s not called Brew City for nothing. Head to Brewer’s Hill, one of the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee for historic architecture and getting a drink at a local brewery.
(Source: The Cream City Real Estate Company via Facebook)
4. Brewer’s Hill
- Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,475
- Average home value: $335,500
- Great for: Restaurants, breweries, historic architecture, outdoor activities, young professionals
Brewer’s Hill offers all sorts of activities and historic architecture to explore. It’s conveniently located a mile and a half north of the city’s downtown area, off the major driving and bus lines. It’s well worth noting that the neighborhood is also nestled up against the western side of the Milwaukee River, which makes for great views and scenic spots to walk and ride your bike, like the nearby Beerline Trail.
If you’re looking to grab a beer (it is Brewer’s Hill, after all), pull up a stool at Lakefront Brewery, where you can get a beer and partake in drag queen bingo, trivia nights, and other eclectic entertainment. The neighborhood gets its name from the breweries, mills, and tanneries that once occupied the area in the 19th century, and you can still see many of those historic buildings around town. So really, it’s only right to honor local history with a hoppy nightcap and a round of trivia.
Home to about 2,600, Brewer’s Hill is one of the best Milwaukee neighborhoods to raise a family, according to Niche, and is the fifth best place in all of Wisconsin for young professionals to live.
5. Riverwest
- Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,475
- Average home value: $255,500
- Great for: Festivals, bars, restaurants, young professionals
Riverwest is one of the best areas to live in Milwaukee for people who love city life. One of the neighborhood’s most popular events is the 24-hour bike race known as Riverwest 24. If a full day of biking isn’t quite your speed, you might enjoy a leisurely afternoon of art and music, which you can find each year at the Locust Street Festival, a summertime celebration filled with live performances and local food vendors. If you still want to get some exercise in, you can participate in the annual Beer Run.
Riverwest is home to a variety of unique manufacturing facilities, too, like Ma Baensch — a company that has been making pickled herring for over 90 years.
As for the people who live there, about 62% of the population rents their home over owning, and the monthly rent averages around $1,475. While it’s a great neighborhood for young professionals, with all the fun goings on, it’s also one of the best Milwaukee neighborhoods to raise a family, according to Niche.
6. Upper East Side
- Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,525
- Average home value: $487,500
- Great for: Families, nightlife, students, restaurants
A few miles north of downtown Milwaukee, the Upper East Side neighborhood features housing costs that are slightly lower than many other areas on this list. With a little more distance from downtown you get a mix of both urban and suburban vibes, lending to the neighborhood’s ranking as one of the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee to raise a family.
With 55% of residents renting and 45% owning their homes, there’s a mix of families and young professionals in the area. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has its campus in the Upper East Side, so you’ll feel its influence throughout the neighborhood, with plenty of students living there, too.
There are tons of great restaurants and bars to keep you well fed and socialized every night of the week. Walk down Oakland Ave and choose between options like fried plantains and smoked jerk chicken from Immy’s African Cuisine; satay and pud khing at Thai A Kitchen; or fill up on gyros and kebabs at Shahrazad.
While the university presence means a constant injection of energy into the area, be aware that things can get noisy at times. If you want total peace and quiet, keep reading for more of the best Milwaukee neighborhoods.
Thanks to its great nightlife and proximity to both Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee River, the Lower East Side is a shoo-in for one of the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee.
7. Lower East Side
- Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,775
- Average home value: $325,300
- Great for: Bars, restaurants, museums, festivals, waterfront views, young professionals
With easy access to bars, restaurants, and fitness facilities, the Lower East Side is one of the most popular and best neighborhoods in Milwaukee. People from different age groups have flocked to this area thanks to its great nightlife and proximity to both Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee River.
It’s also been labeled the second most walkable neighborhood in the city, right behind Juneau Town, making it ultra easy to get around on foot. While you’re walking around, be sure to stroll over to the Charles Allis Art Museum, which includes a stunning collection of paintings and artifacts housed in a gorgeous early-1900s Tudor-style mansion.
Other fun things to do in the Lower East Side include catching a movie (or several) at the annual Milwaukee Film Festival, going to the popular Points East Pub to catch the game and grab a drink, or taking advantage of the neighborhood’s lakeside location by heading out on a boat tour.
8. Downer Woods
- Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,525
- Average home value: $517,800
- Great for: Nightlife, outdoor activities, commuting, parks, university access
Just north of the Upper East Side, Downer Woods is another one of the nicest neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Home to about 5,000 residents, this enclave has more of a sparse suburban feel, compared to the more bustling vibe of its southern neighbor.
Slightly more people own than rent here, and the average home value clocks in around $517,800. Given that the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a big part of this neighborhood, Downer Woods tends to provide a home for many faculty and students looking to live off-campus. Locals say it’s a nice, residential area that doesn’t get too loud.
If you’re looking to spend some time in nature, head down the leafy streets to one of the several nearby parks, including Oak Leaf Trail, where you can birdwatch, bike, or roller blade; or nearby Atwater Park, which features a sandy beach along Lake Michigan in the neighboring village of Shorewood.
9. Mount Mary
- Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,025
- Average home value: $294,300
- Great for: Families, outdoor activities, commuting, university access
Mount Mary is about eight miles northwest of downtown Milwaukee (a drive that will take you 15-20 minutes), and as such, residents there pay considerably less for their homes than those who live along the shore. Mount Mary features many Colonials and ranch-style homes from the 1950s-70s and is one of the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee to raise a family.
Some helpful notes on the demographics: More than 80% of residents here own their homes; the average household income is around $85,200 (compared to $75,100 nationally); and families with children make up about a third of the population.
Though the schools overall earn a C- grade, there are several A-rated options serving Mount Mary, including: Wauwatosa Montessori School, Wauwatosa School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math, and McKinley Elementary School. The neighborhood is also home to Mount Mary University, a private Catholic university for women, which U.S. News & World Report ranks as #1 among top performers on social mobility.
From an abundance of restaurants and cafes, to parks and yoga studios, Bay View is one of the best Milwaukee neighborhoods for fun things to do with friends.
(Source: The Cream City Real Estate Company via Facebook)
10. Bay View
- Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,625
- Average home value: $305,200
- Great for: Restaurants, bars, parks, beautiful homes, families, young professionals
Bay View is one of the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee to get views of nearby Lake Michigan while exploring plenty of great restaurants and bars. Not sure where to start? Take a walk down Kinnickinnic Avenue and get a table at Crafty Cow, where you can get a mezcal mai tai and a burger loaded with peanut butter, bacon, and potato chips (or just a regular burger, if you prefer). If you’re looking for something to start your day, fuel up with a honey bun and a cup of coffee at HiFi Cafe. Whether you’re into craft cocktail lounges or brewpubs, you’ll be able to find your new favorite eatery in no time.
With above average concentrations of bars, gyms, cafes, and yoga studios, Bay View is one of the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee for fun things to do with friends. During the summers, explore Oak Leaf Trail and South Shore Park, or you can bring a blanket to Humboldt Park for the free Chill on the Hill concert series, where you can pack a picnic or enjoy the food trucks on site.
All in all, this area is a great place for first-time home buyers and those looking to rent, with a variety of activities to keep residents entertained.
11. Harbor View
- Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,675
- Average home value: $437,800
- Great for: Outdoor activities, nightlife, commuting, waterfront views
Living in Harbor View puts you right on the Milwaukee River, just south of the Historic Third Ward and west of Jones Island. Most residents here rent their homes, and the average rent comes out to about $1,675 for a one-bedroom. Beyond gorgeous river and bay views, though, what is there to do in Harbor View?
You can catch some contemporary theater at Next Act Theatre or laugh your abs sore during an unconventional comedy show at ComedySportz Milwaukee. If you want to take advantage of the neighborhood’s waterfront location, visit Milwaukee Kayak Company to rent a paddleboard, canoe, or kayak for a few hours, starting at $30. When you work up an appetite with all that paddling, satiate your hunger with some tapas at La Merenda or some Mexican fare at The Laughing Taco.
12. Yankee Hill
- Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,775
- Average home value: $395,200
- Great for: History, lake activities, walkability, young professionals, retirees, families
Yankee Hill is a great place for those who prefer to walk rather than drive, given that the neighborhood has a walk score of 88 — making it the fourth most walkable Milwaukee neighborhood.
This neighborhood is located in the northern part of downtown Milwaukee, and it features beautiful churches and mansions from the 1930s. The Oak Leaf Trail also passes through the area, which is perfect for walking and biking to and from Lake Michigan or other parts of the city. Who doesn’t want a water view along their commute?
Around 3,000 residents call Yankee Hill home, and nearly all of them (87% to be exact) rent rather than own. The average rent hovers around $1,775 per month, which is only a couple hundred dollars above the average rent across all of Milwaukee. Given the high proportion of renters, it’s no surprise that the area ranks as one of the very best parts of Milwaukee for young professionals.
PODS Can Help You Move to One of the Best Neighborhoods in Milwaukee
We hope you found this guide to the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee useful. When you’re ready to make your move to Brew City, consider making it a flexible one with PODS. Have a portable moving and storage container delivered right to your driveway where you can pack and load on your own schedule (with one-month of built-in storage). When you’re ready, your container will get picked up and delivered to your new home in Brew City.
Check out the PODS Blog for more neighborhood guides, moving tips, and packing hacks.
Editor’s note: Monthly rental prices were rounded to the nearest $25 and home values were rounded to the nearest $100 for ease of reading.
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