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Hi! Looking for information about the Milwaukee and Kansas City MO areas. My husband may have the opportunity to relocate to one of these areas next year and we are considering moving. We moved to the Dayton area (for his work) from Dallas-Fort Worth a year ago (both of us not originally from DFW but spent most of our lives there) and although the experience in Dayton has been fine we do not think that Dayton will be a good fit for us long term. We have 2 kids so good schools are important and are an active family that likes to spend time outside.
Milwaukee Region without a doubt. This is especially the case due to proximity of nice natural features, Lake Michigan, easy drive to Chicagoland or Madison, cultural amenities, festivals, etc. It doesn’t have southern influences compared to Dayton. Milwaukee has four distinct seasons with very pleasant summers and somewhat snowy winters. The main downside to the area is significant segregation by race and economic class. Mequon, Whitefish Bay, and most of Wauwatosa are nice areas.
Kansas City is a great option with an active/thriving downtown area and big city amenities with plenty of recreational options including a significant "lake life" culture in the summer/fall. The suburbs of Johnson County (Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa and Olathe) are considered to be among the best suburbs in the US with excellent schools.
Kansas City is a great option with an active/thriving downtown area and big city amenities with plenty of recreational options including a significant "lake life" culture in the summer/fall. The suburbs of Johnson County (Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa and Olathe) are considered to be among the best suburbs in the US with excellent schools.
KC is not known for "lakes" or lake culture to any degree compared to the Upper Midwest that has plenty of naturally occurring lakes. The Ozarks are a joke, does not compare to sandy clear Northwoods lakes. Johnson County does have good schools, but they are not all universally excellent across the board. One can find excellent schools in wealthy zip codes in any area of the US, and Milwaukee region is no exception to that. Ozaukee County is known for excellent schools as well. Mequon and Leawood are both wealthy demographic areas with high quality of life, with very high housing prices to match for not being in coastal areas.
I agree, it doesn't suffer the second city complex like Milwaukee does either.
There is no second city complex....at all. You can tell you aren't familiar with Milwaukee, because if you were, you would know that. Being able to go to lunch in Chicago and back home to Milwaukee for dinner, is, actually, a pretty wonderful thing. And, I would choose Milwaukee, because it's on the Lake, in a state full of lakes, and you can be in the Chicago suburbs, the second you leave the Milwaukee suburbs. No suffering, but thanks for your concern.
I am familiar with both cities. I was born in Milwaukee and spent my childhood there. I have gone back to visit over the years. My brother lives in Kansas City (Overland Park).
I would pick Kansas City. The winters in Milwaukee are brutal. KC is one of the fastest growing cities in the Midwest. Milwaukee has little or no growth just like the rest of the rust belt.
Both are wonderful cities. You're lucky. I've lived in both of them.
Take whichever one presents itself with the least inconvenience, and don't look back.
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