Things You Need to Know Before Moving to Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a big dairy state. After all, Wisconsin is the second leading producer of dairy products. But Wisconsin’s a lot more than dairy farms. You might know Wisconsin as a state of farmland, dove bars, and terrible Milwaukee neighborhoods. But to really get to know Wisconsin, you need to look at this state from afar and visit each of the state’s unique regions. Then you’ll truly know what Wisconsin is all about and you’ll be able to figure out what part of Wisconsin is best for you.

The most part central Wisconsin is mostly smaller towns with good neighborhoods, solid schools well-behaved kids and a lot of rednecks everywhere in Wisconsin you want to come lake fish no the western side of Wisconsin is you guessed it more forest small towns dairy farms, and agriculture sadly many of the farms out this way have fallen under corporate control lacrosse. Wisconsin has more farmland, in fact, a big part of southern Wisconsin is mostly farmland and small towns with good people and low crime but this square here from the madison suburbs over to Milwaukee all the way down to the Illinois border is much different than the west of Wisconsin, it’s here that Wisconsin’s culture changes big time this is a most crowded part of the state about 40 percent of Wisconsin’s entire population.

Northwest side like Williamsburg heights sadly this pocket here is where most of the crime occurs and the reason Milwaukee gets such a bad rap a lot of people around this state say they don’t like Milwaukee’s politics very much Milwaukee proper is not a very safe place it’s from what I’ve heard it’s poorly run um it’s corrupt and lots of you know when it was booming the industries that are there just are not there anymore a lot of industries are leaving the city of Milwaukee maybe going to a suburb but again it’s not the safest place it’s not the best-run place the suburbs are very nice though Milwaukee was the first and only city in America to elect a socialist mayor. 

If you are thinking about moving to Wisconsin here are some things you need to know about living in Wisconsin. 

• Pros and Cons. 

Pros: 

• Beer, cheese and brats: The reputation for making tons of beer, cheese, and brats isn’t just hot air. The Badger State is one of the biggest makers of cheese in the world, not to mention a highly celebrated brewery hotspot. If you’re a fan of tailgating foods, then it’s safe to say that you’re going to fit in just fine among cheeseheads.
• Nature-Filled Attractions: Like much of the Midwest, you will love having so much access to nature. Wisconsin is home to several major national parks and even has some beach shores along the Eastern side of the state. Top places to check out include the Taliesin Preservation and the Cave of the Mounds—two seriously impressive parks.
• Festivals: A lot of the locals in Wisconsin joke about it being “the festival state” due to the sheer number of celebrations they have. During the spring, summer and autumn, you can enjoy literally hundreds of festivals. They range from carnival-like events that celebrate certain foods (like cheese), local heritage festivals, as well as music festivals. Be forewarned, food tends to play a very large focal point of all Wisconsin celebrations. If you’re on a diet, you might want to arrive hungry and plan a cheat day for those decadent meals. 
• People: Even if you are from the midwest, there are going to be very few regions you’ll see that are as friendly and outgoing as the state of Wisconsin. It almost feels like everyone here’s constantly out on the lookout for new friends. Having a random conversation with people who you barely know is the norm here, as is getting an invite to the local church event.

Cons: 

• Extreme weather: During the summer, Wisconsin is hot as heck. During the winter? Well, you’re not going to be shocked to find out that Wisconsin is one of the chilliest, most snow-ridden states in the Union. It’s not uncommon for temperatures to dip as low as the single digits during February and March. If you’re not a fan of snow, Wisconsin is a terrible place to live. Depending on where you live, you might face annual snowfall totals between 31.5 to 125 inches. (No, that’s NOT a typo!)
• Transit: While the cities in Wisconsin do have a fair amount of public transit, and there are AMTRAK trains that go through the state, the truth is this is not a place to go if you don’t have a driving license. The vast majority of the state requires a car to get from place to place, and public transit isn’t always very reliable.
• The Non-diverse food: While Wisconsin does have an active food scene, the truth is that it’s not quite like most other states. This is a state that really prides itself on its German food. That’s great, if you’re in the mood for German food. Unfortunately, outside of American and German food, you might have a harder time finding an authentic place to eat. Even if you do live in an area where diverse options are available, you might find yourself hard-pressed to have an exceptional selection. With that said, bigger cities are much better about this than most of the typical small towns.
• Lack of diversity: If you are used to a highly diverse area like New Jersey or California, then Wisconsin is going to be an extreme culture shock for you. Diversity is something that Wisconsin doesn’t really have—at least, not on a state level. People who come from different backgrounds might feel a little out of their element at first, even if the Badger State locals are pretty friendly.

• Cost Of living. 

Just as cost of living varies from state to state, it also varies from place to place within states. In Wisconsin, St. Croix County, home to the city of Hudson, has the highest overall cost of living for a family of four at $93,772 per year, well above the statewide average of $81,183 per year.

Meanwhile, Grant County is the least expensive place in Wisconsin. The average annual cost of living for a family of four in the area is just $72,677, $8,505 less than it is across the state as a whole. Platteville is the most populous community in Grant County.

• Housing Market. 

The median home price in Wisconsin jumped 10.3% to $229,900. The median home price in the United States is up 17.2% to $329,100 from a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors. The increasing prices have been offset with historically low interest rates for mortgages. But, in the last few months, mortgage rates have increased to just more than 3%. 

In Milwaukee Country, the median price rose 8.1% to $194,500 in March from $180,000 in the same month a year ago. Across all counties in Southeast Wisconsin, the median price was up 2.8% to $235,500 from $229,000 last year. 

• 5 Best Places to Live in Wisconsin. 

Whitefish Bay. 

Whitefish Bay is a suburb of Milwaukee with a population of 14,100. The city prides itself on having a unique character, and you can’t really blame yourself for it. It is one of the most expensive places to live in the state, and for good reason. It’s also got some great schools, a booming job market, an affluent population (the median income is a healthy $111,069), safe, tree-lined streets, an abundance of outdoor recreational facilities, some unique stores, cafes, and restaurants, and a packed schedule of community events. Prepare to spend around $365,500 on a property to buy, or $1238 on a property to rent.

According to Niche.com, there is no better place to raise a family in Badger State, nor is there a better “place” or “suburb” to call home in all of Wisconsin, ranking first in all three distinct categories.

Elm Grove. 

With a population of just over 6,127 people, Elm Grove is one of the smallest places on our list,  in terms of room, of course. We say this because the small suburb of Milwaukee, nestled in Waukesha County, has received high praise over the years. For example, in 2014, Business Insider named it the best suburb to reside in America.

It scores highly in education (Niche also ranks second in Wisconsin’s best public schools), low crime rate, and a fairly wealthy population whose median household income is $ 114,755.

As for recreation, Lake Country, a popular summer getaway, is only 15 minutes away. Activities on offer include camping, biking, and boating. It also takes its environmental efforts seriously, and is especially committed to making the environment conducive not only to its small population, but also to fauna and flora and birds, which has earned it the title of “City of the birds”.

Shorewood. 

Shorewood is another unique place to put down roots in the state of Wisconsin. The town sits along a lake and is one of the most picturesque places to reside, making it a perfect location.

With 13,300 residents, Shorewood may be densely inhabited, but it is a community that offers its people some breathing space.

The town is very close to the largest city in the country and this, coupled with a highly rated school system, makes it a special place to establish for both young professionals and families. Median home value in Shorewood is $ 292,600 and rent will cost you $ 908 per month.

Brookefield. 

The City of Brookfield is located in Waukesha County and is one of the wealthiest cities in the state. It has a large population of 38,000 people, and the majority of the workforce earns good wages, given that the median family income is $ 92,518. A median household income of $101,761. 

As with anywhere else on this list, the public school system is stellar, and you are well catered for whether you like to have fun with the family or a night out on the town.

Plus, the local restaurant scene is diverse, and you’re sure to find a couple of interesting options, whether you’re into organic vegetarian treats or spicy-spicy Indian delicacies. And everything else in between.

Fox Point. 

With only 6,700 residents, Fox Point may sound like your average family-friendly town. It is, up to a point.

However, he takes it a step further because apparently, this is one of the richest towns in Wisconsin, something that has led some to name it one of the most snobbish places in the state. But in a good way.

Life at Fox Point is good. Really good. Well hidden in Milwaukee’s footprint, its residents enjoy one of the highest quality of life in the entire state. You’d think it’s one of the most expensive too. Houses cost $293,300, which is about the cost of a three-bedroom mansion. However, the area has one of the highest incomes per household, averaging $115,523. 

Are you ready to make your move to Wisconsin?

Moving to Wisconsin can be a big event for most people, especially if you come from a smaller town. For all of your long-distance moving needs, be sure to keep We are the Best Moving and Storage in mind as our movers have handled moves for millions of customers across the country. Keep your mind at ease and go with us to move you to Wisconsin.