Posted on 06/21/2012 9:45:39 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
I am considering leaving iowa and going to wisconsin. But other than cheese, beer, dairy cows, and harley davidson motorcycles I know nothing about it. I was in wisconsin one weekend about 25 years ago. What I remember was the towns and neighborhoods reminded me of ohio.
Climate, economy, cost of living, politics, crime, wildlife, any unusual laws, taxes, gun rights, recreation, night life...whatever you can think of. If close to the great lakes I assume the climate will be mild. I hope they don't have mosquitoes like in Minnesota.
Hey, Pleasant Prairie, I grew up in Twin Lakes, graduated from Wilmot HS. Still make it up there at least once a year. Now down in Rochelle, IL.
It’s kinda on the southwestern edge of SE Wis but Lake Geneva is a great place. A lot of nice small towns up Hwy. 36 towards Milwaukee. Lyons, Burlington, Waterford, Rochester (former state capitol)My Milwaukee suburb reccomendation would be Whitefish Bay.
Wisconsin ping: still time to weigh in on where’s the best place to live in the SE corner of Wisconsin.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
I’d suggest Mequon, Cedarburg, or Grafton. Those little towns are conservative bastions, but still close enough to Milwaukee to participate in the good stuff there. If you want to be south of Milwaukee, there are Hales Corners or Franklin to consider.
Somebody above mentioned that January and February are long. Depends upon your perspective. You don’t have to mow the grass during those months! That’s a plus.
Lake Geneva suffers from too many FIBS. Er, that is to say an infestation, mainly in summer of people from Below the Cheddar Curtain, also known as Illinois.
You’re expecting Wisconsin to be different from Iowa climatically? What part of Iowa are you from? I live in western Wisconsin, which is very hilly. Southeastern Wisconsin is flatter though not central Illinois flat. The suburbs of Milwaukee are very conservative while Milwaukee proper is quite Democrat. Not necessarily liberal, but certainly Democrat. Madison is very liberal and Democrat. Don’t expect the weather to be much warmer than where you’re at now. In fact, southern Iowa is probably warmer than any part of Wisconsin. The lake doesn’t warm things up much.
Several relatives have places in Wisconsin.
A young relative lives on a farmlet west of Racine but has a Kenosha mailing address for some reason. I’d say this is just far enough from Milwaukee.
Grandpa had a cottage on a lake south of Burlington after WW II.
Seems like an OK area if you can take the winters. Me, I bailed to the southwest and south back in the Nixon administration.
I say this as someone who's never lived anywhere else. I'd love to escape Milwaukee County, but our housing values here are dropping like a rock - I don't think I will be able to sell my house for a very long time.
Well, we moved here in Dec 2010 from Southern California. Massive weather change...and we LOVE Hales Corners. So much so, that we’re buying here.
I didn’t know you lived in Iowa. I like SE WI but don’t know if I would want to live that close to a major metropolitian.
You’re expecting Wisconsin to be different from Iowa climatically?
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Why not? Minnesota is different than iowa. Compared to iowa, cleveland has mild winters and mild summers. I assumed this was due to the lake.
Whitefish Bay is nice. It has good schools and a small-town feel. It's right on Lake Michigan and has a shorter commute to downtown Milwaukee than most of the nicer suburbs (Greendale, Oak Creek, Wauwatosa, New Berlin, Brookfield, Hartland, Delafield, Menomonee Falls, Germantown, Mequon, Thiensville, Cedarburg).
HOWEVER, Whitefish Bay has become heavily infested with DINK (dual income, no kids) liberals and is located in Milwaukee County. Milwaukee County property taxes are INSANELY high.
But if you like a small-town feel and want to remain near the benefits of a Big City, I would recommend Cedarburg in Ozaukee County. For the same amount of money, homes and property are much larger in Cedarburg than Whitefish Bay. The schools are as good or better than in Whitefish Bay. There are also more families and fewer DINKs. Ozaukee County property taxes are also nearly half of those in Milwaukee County and less than the taxes in the nicer suburban communities in Waukesha County (Brookfield, Hartland, Delafield, New Berlin & Menomonee Falls). And liberals are scarce in Cedarburg.
The downside to Cedarburg is the 30-45 minute commute times (add 15 minutes during rush hours) to downtown Milwaukee, lakefront festivals, Miller Park, shopping malls, the zoo and the airport.
lol
I prefer suburban/city living to the country or small town experience you enjoy, but I understand what you're saying. I used to travel quite extensively across the country as part of my job and I would tell anyone who would listen that suburban Milwaukee was the greatest place to live in America from May 1st through November 1st.
If I ever win the lottery, I would retire and purchase "winter" homes in South Carolina, Florida, Texas or Arizona. But I would ALWAYS live near Milwaukee for the great seasonal weather in late spring, summer & fall.
Metro Milwaukee simply has the BEST summer festivals and great BIG CITY amenities (parks, arts & theatre, restaurants, shopping, pro sports) without the stress, crime and long commutes of other metropolitan areas.
I grew up in Mequon. At one time it was fox farms and mink farms. I know its changed, but still leaves a soft spot in my heart.
Fibs. LOL. "Friendly Illinois Brethren." I've heard that term a few times in West Michigan.
Fibs. LOL. "Friendly Illinois Brethren." I've heard that term a few times in West Michigan.
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Thanks for the G-rated definition of FIB. You've got the Illinois part correct.
You do know what the acronym "FIB" actually stands for? I just want to be sure.
Friendly & brethern are not even close.
I'm from North Michigan originally, so I'm aware with townie terms for citiots. Citiots, F'n Illinois Bastids, Fudgies, trolls (lower Michigan), flatlanders, Detoilet,
I live real close to Iowa. Believe me, it’s not any warmer in Wisconsin.
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