Small Town Feel w/ in 45 miles of Children's Hospital? (Milwaukee: middle-class, insurance)

[marchesefam]

Hi all!

Hoping you can help... We currently live in the greater Phoenix,
Arizona area and we are looking to relocate.

A little about us:
We are in our early 30's, the parents of a special needs (heart
defect) daughter who is adopted. We are looking for the idyllic
"quaint" area. I grew up outside of San Francisco but went to high
school in Sheboygan, WI and my husband grew up in Jackson Hole,
Wyoming. We like the smaller communities and we're looking for a small
town feel with some amenities. I'd like a community where one can get
involved, one with good schools, a middle-class cost of living, and
very safe. My daughter will require numerous heart surgeries over the
course of her life, so we're looking at the top 25 pediatric
cardiology facilities and searching a 45 mile radius around the area.

In Arizona, kids can't do sports in the summer because of the heat. No
kids play outside, and after 5 years in my current home, I still don't
know most of my neighbors. I'd like a town where kids play outside,
the neighbors know one another, the town goes to the high school
football games.

My husband is a claims adjuster for a large insurance company and
works from home, so we're very flexible. I am a stay-at-home mother,
so being able to do things with my child is important.

I enjoy a milder climate, but I'm flexible.

I appreciate your help!

[Milwaukee City]

1. Cedarburg!!! then Grafton. I really wouldn't consider any other town for what you are looking for.

[marchesefam]

Oooh!! I LOVE Cedarburg! I completely forgot about that area. I haven't been back to WI in over 10 years, so I'm a bit scared of the winters, but I suppose you get used to it again. The schools seem great. Do you know if there are any sketchy areas of that town? What is the average home price?

[Milwaukee City]

Believe there is nowhere even close to Cedarburg that is sketchy. I'm not sure on the home prices but I know you can find nice houses for under 300K.

Shorewest Realtors - Property Details

[marchesefam]

What about Menomonee Falls? Is Sheboygan a terrible place to live these days? Where is Shorewood? Is Whitefish Bay still ridiculously overpriced?

[Milwaukee City]

Originally Posted by marchesefam

What about Menomonee Falls? Is Sheboygan a terrible place to live these days? Where is Shorewood? Is Whitefish Bay still ridiculously overpriced?

Menomonee Falls is more of your spread out typical cookie cutter suburb that doesn't feel like a small town more like a suburb in a metro area. Shorewood and Whitefish Bay are priced higher than most towns but they have a small town feel however there is no doubt you are in an urban suburb. I love Shorewood and WFB but what I think the OP is looking for is more of a Cedarburg type.

[marchesefam]

I'm actually the original poster

Here's what I'm looking for- basically, I graduated high school in 97' from Sheboygan North. I had an AMAZING teenager/childhood there. I'm looking to give my daughter something like I had. We toilet papered each other, did the football game thing, had the rival high school (north vs south), 4th of July @ the lake. LOTS of traditions.. I want that. I LOVE Cedarburg, but is it too small? Maybe... Throw some other ideas out there please?

[Milwaukee City]

I don't think the Cedarburg/Grafton/Mequon area is that small. It's 50,000+ which is the same size as Sheboygan, plus Sheboygan has had it's fair share of job loss and crime and political issues of late. Plus Sheboygan seems more of an industrial town and not as clean as Cedarburg or Grafton or Mequon. Plus living in Ozaukee County you would have access to Milwaukee which has more family friendly things to do than say a Sheboygan County would have.

Plus Cedarburg and Grafton and even Mequon have changed a lot in the last 10 years. Sheboygan doesn't have the best reputation either if that matters to you. If I had to chose it would be Cedarburg for me then Grafton then Mequon.

[marchesefam]

I had no idea about Sheboygan. I guess you sort of live in a bubble when you are young, not really knowing what else is out there. You're right, if Sheboygan has the reputation it does, I'd rather not be a part of that.

Of the 3 you reccomend: Grafton, Mequon and Cedarburg- are any of them more affordable than another? What would be the pros/cons of each?

I appreciate your insight!

[Nuclear_Art]

Elm Grove is probably the closest place with a small town feel. You may want to look into it before heading too far afield. It is extremely convenient to Children's Hospital and is tucked away in a nice spot. The downtown is small and has the feel of a village but has amenities such as a grocery and restaurants.