Moving to Southeastern Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois

Moving to Milwaukee from Chicago — or the other way

What changes when you cross the state line: taxes, home prices, commute options and school systems. Each topic has its own guide below.

Living in Milwaukee: pros and cons

Pros:

• Lower overall prices than the Chicago metro.
• The Lake Michigan lakefront and a summer festival season at Henry Maier Festival Park, including Summerfest, Polish Fest, German Fest, Irish Fest and Mexican Fiesta.
• Amtrak Hiawatha trains to downtown Chicago.
• Milwaukee Mitchell airport nearby, with O’Hare about 75 miles away for long-haul flights.
• Major hospital systems, including Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin, Aurora and Ascension.

Cons:

• Cold, snowy winters — plan for winter tires and snow removal.
• Few international nonstop flights from Milwaukee; most long-haul trips connect through O’Hare.
• Higher property tax rates in the City of Milwaukee than in many suburbs.
• Limited public transit outside the city.
• Many older homes, which need a careful inspection.

Is Milwaukee a good place to live?

That depends on what matters to you. Some measurable points:

• Overall prices below the US average (see above).
• Property tax rates that vary widely from one community to the next — each town page lists its rate.
• About 1 hour 29 minutes from downtown Milwaukee to downtown Chicago by Amtrak.
• A lakefront festival season from June to August.

Compare specific towns on their own pages, such as Wauwatosa, Whitefish Bay, Brookfield, Mequon, Shorewood and Milwaukee.

Your moving-to-Wisconsin checklist

A step-by-step checklist for the months before and after your move — driver’s license, utilities, schools, banking and more.

Before the move:

• Confirm your relocation package (lump sum or managed).
• Choose target towns by taxes, schools and commute.
• Get a mortgage pre-approval.
• Book temporary housing if you need it.
• Request school and vaccination records.
• Get quotes from at least three movers.

First 30 days: forward your mail, set up utilities (We Energies serves most of Southeastern Wisconsin), register children with the school district (bring proof of address) and open a bank account.

Within 90 days: update your voter registration at myvote.wi.gov and check your employer’s health-plan enrollment deadline (often 30 days from your start date). If you owned the home on January 1, check that the lottery and gaming credit is on your property tax bill.