10 Best Neighborhoods in Milwaukee: Where To Move in Brew City

Milwaukee hasn’t been dubbed “Brew City” for no reason. With some of the best breweries in the nation, plenty of family-friendly finds, and a delectable dining scene, this city is a great place to call home. We've curated a list of the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee to help you find your spot in this wonderful metro.

Whether you’re moving to Milwaukee to explore the lively city or you’re searching for a serene view of Lake Michigan, you’ll need to find the perfect place to land. Here are a few things you should know beforehand about the best Milwaukee neighborhoods.

Milwaukee at a Glance

• Population: Milwaukee’s population is over 563,000.
• Median age: The median age in Milwaukee is about 33.
• City size: Milwaukee’s total area is about 96 square miles.
• Location: The city is in the southeastern part of the state, west of Lake Michigan and almost 100 miles north of Chicago, Illinois.
• Fun fact: Every time you type, thank Milwaukee. C. Latham Sholes, who invented the famous QWERTY keyboard arrangement in Milwaukee in 1869.

10 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 to get comfortable and settle down. Without further ado, here are our picks for the best Milwaukee neighborhoods to call home.

1. Cooper Park

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,650
• Average home value: $282,500
• Great for: Families, retirees, and affordable housing

Cooper Park is a dense, suburban neighborhood, with parks and inclusive infrastructure that make people tend to stay there for the long term.  Quite possibly the best neighborhood in Milwaukee, Cooper Park is an excellent choice if you want to live farther out — about 20 minutes — while still having access to amenities, like quality coffee shops and a tight-knit community of other families in an affordable setting.

Some of the best places to go include Miss Molly’s Cafe & Pastry Shop on the far corner of the neighborhood. It also has tons of playgrounds, including one with a wading pool. It definitely adds to the relaxing vibe Cooper Park has, especially as the area continues to improve its amenities with bike racks and new equipment. Its residents are still somewhat car-dependent, but options are expanding.

Juneau Town is definitely one of the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee for young professionals and students.

2. Juneau Town

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,750
• Average home value: $355,400
• Great for: Art, young professionals, and students

Located in the heart of Downtown Milwaukee, Juneau Town is known as the area's most walkable community, filled with young professionals, college students, and diverse architecture. With tons of green space among the high-rises, this is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Milwaukee for providing the perfect mix of urban and suburban living — if you can deal with the noise pollution.

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.

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, which contains over 30,000 works. Street parking can be strict, though, so be sure to research beforehand.

3. Bay View

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,725
• Average home value: $333,200
• Great for: Restaurants, nightlife, and nature

Bay View is only a 10-minute drive from downtown, and one of the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee for views of Lake Michigan and more scenic locales. That beauty is causing the neighborhood’s prices to surge, though. That competition makes it a great place for first-time home buyers and those looking to rent — plus there’s plenty to keep residents entertained.

Explore plenty of great restaurants and bars, including Heirloom MKE and Goodkind Bay View. It also has a variety of green spaces, including South Shore Park and Oak Leaf Trail. 

Just a five-minute drive from downtown, the Lower East Side is a popular spot for urban dwellers who want to enjoy the Milwaukee nightlife. 

4. Lower East Side

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,750
• Average home value: $336,300
• Great for: Lakes, museums, and walkability

The Lower East Side is a popular neighborhood, and just a five-minute drive from downtown, with easy access to bars, restaurants, and fitness facilities for the culturally curious. People from different age groups have flocked to this area due 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.

One of the most popular activities in the Lower East Side is going to the Charles Allis Art Museum. Other activities include watching the movies at the annual Milwaukee Film Festival, going to the Points East Pub, or taking a boat trip nearby on Lake Park or elsewhere on the coast. If you can tolerate somewhat outdated rental units and traffic, this is one of the best Milwaukee neighborhoods.

5. Walker’s Point

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,500
• Average home value: $164,500
• Great for: LGBTQ+ events, breweries, and culture

In general, Milwaukee is considered LGBTQ+ friendly — but Walker’s Point is a known inclusive space. Featuring its iconic rainbow crosswalks, it’s perfect for young people with a rich social life who want to take advantage of its affordable housing market. The neighborhood hosts the area's annual PrideFest, but there’s an active nightlife scene all year. Green space is limited, but it has plenty to keep you occupied.

With easy access to a variety of great breweries, restaurants, and coffee shops, Walker's Point is also a foodie’s dream. It's got an industrial edge, with some city noise to boot, making it an ideal location for tourists and locals alike. There are art galleries, antique shops, and food trucks in the area, so you can always find something to do without having to travel very far from home.

6. Riverwest

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $925
• Average home value: $268,000
• Great for: Festivals, bars, and career starters

Riverwest is one of the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee for people who love city life and making traditions out of its most celebrated events. One of the area's most popular events is the 24-hour bike race known as Riverwest 24. The Locust Street Festival is also hosted here.

The area is less known for its schooling opportunities and more known for job hunting. There are a variety of unique manufacturing facilities in the area, like Ma Baensch — a company that has been making pickled herring for over 90 years.

Just north of downtown, Brewer’s Hill makes you feel like you’re part of the city without needing to be in it.

7. Brewer’s Hill

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,425
• Average home value: $344,600
• Great for: Historic architecture, outdoor activities, and urban atmosphere

Brewer’s Hill sits just north of downtown, making you feel like you’re part of the city without needing to be in it, offering all sorts of activities and historic architecture to explore. It’s off the major driving and bus lines, which will give you plenty of time to explore.

Despite its hilly location, which can sometimes become cumbersome in winter, it offers many surprises. You can also take a tour of the area's breweries, like Lakefront Brewery, or try some bites from local staples, like Uncle Wolfie’s Breakfast Tavern. The Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is another gem for people who love fresh produce and supporting local.

8. Enderis Park

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,300
• Average home value: $315,450
• Great for: Parks, families, and community

Enderis Park is one of the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee for community, and it is only a short 13-minute drive from downtown. At the center of this community is Enderis Playground, featuring tons of shady trees and events for children to enjoy. There are also two baseball fields on the east side of the neighborhood at Center Street Park for any families with budding athletes.

The residents are powered by an active neighborhood association, which gets together every year to host a Christmas-decorating contest and many summer concerts and picnics.

9. Mount Mary

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,425
• Average home value: $317,100
• Great for: Homebuying, retirees, and going to school

Mount Mary is a small, suburban neighborhood of only around 3,800 residents with a slightly longer commute to downtown — around 17 minutes without traffic. Most people in the community own their homes, even with Mount Mary University being at the center of the area.

This is also a great area for retirees who want to enjoy assisted living, with some of the top-rated options on the edge of Mount Mary, including Trinity Woods and Careshare Assisted Living. You will be near plenty of wooded areas and the Menomonee River without feeling too far from conveniences, like shops and parks.

Take a stroll through Third Ward’s Lakeshore State Park for unparalleled water views.

10. Historic Third Ward

• Average rent (one-bedroom): $1,750
• Average home value: $494,500
• Great for: Art, restaurants, festivals, and young professionals

The Historic Third Ward District of downtown Milwaukee is home to art galleries, trendy stores, and stylish eateries. This means there is a lot of tourism and traffic. But if you’re craving local food and drink, head to the Milwaukee Public Market, which features a wide range of 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. Take a stroll through Lakeshore State Park or visit the nearby Henry Maier Festival Park, which 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.

Best Neighborhoods in Milwaukee — FAQs

Q: What is the best part of Milwaukee to live in?
A: When zeroing in on the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee, Cooper Park is the number one. If you’re looking at suburbs specifically, then Whitefish Bay is your best bet.

Q: What is the safest part of Milwaukee to live in?
A: The safest places to live in the Milwaukee area are Alcott Park, which has a 92 percent lower crime rate than the city, or Mill Valley, which comes in a close second at 91 percent.

Q: Is $100,000 a good salary in Milwaukee?
A: For many industries, $100,000 would be a great salary in Milwaukee. Some sectors, like healthcare and computers, hover around this figure. However, industries like management and legal should be on the higher end, around $140,000 and $130,000, respectively.

Q: What are the rough parts of Milwaukee?
A: When looking at crime maps, you will notice more crime occurs in the central parts of the city and a little south of center. Areas like North Division, Metcalfe Park, and Park West are known for higher crime rates.

Q: What are the wealthiest parts of Milwaukee?
A: Based on cost of living, Downer Woods and the Historic Third Ward are tied at the top of the list. They are the most expensive neighborhoods, with a cost of living 35 percent higher than the city overall. Estabrook Park and the Upper East Side are right behind them.

Q: What is the most diverse neighborhood in Milwaukee?
A: Castle Manor is known for its racially diverse population. In general, many of the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee are considered diverse, but Walker’s Point, in particular, is noted for its accepting and vibrant LGBTQ+ nightlife scene.

PODS Can Help You Move to One of the Best Neighborhoods in Milwaukee

It’s one thing finding the best neighborhoods in Milwaukee, but it’s another thing when you’re actually trying to move there. Make your move to Milwaukee flexible with PODS portable moving containers. Pack at your own pace, get one month’s storage included in the cost of every move, and get the help you deserve on your way to the city. PODS can refer you to local packing and loading services to help with the heavy lifting.

Visit PODS online for a free local moving quote or call 877-350-7637 for long-distance moving.

Editor’s note: Average rent prices were obtained from RentCafe and Zumper; average home values were obtained from Zillow. For ease of reading, monthly rental prices were rounded to the nearest $25 and home values were rounded to the nearest $100.

_{*This article was written on behalf of PODS Enterprises, LLC (“PODS”). PODS does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of any information contained in this article and disclaims any liability for reliance upon the content herein.}