Possible relocation to Marinette, Wi (Green Bay, Peshtigo: houses, rent, income)

[Terri2u]

I might have an opportunity to relocate up north - Marinette, WI. Have a toddler.

Any thoughts / comments on what to consider in regards to the area, lifestyle, small town atmosphere.....

Thanks

[grapeguy]

I was born there, and grew up 10 miles or so from there (went through school in Peshtigo).
You don't say where you currently live; it might be easier to characterize Marinette based on a comparison, but i'll try anyway.

In general Marinette is based on industry, but that's not to say it's at all ugly or undesirable. Most of the industry is relatively non-polluting and unobtrusive. Air quality is pretty good (compared to other places I've lived including Indiana and Texas.) The bulk of houses in town tend to be old, wood-framed, and dating from 1890-1950. Outside town, most houses are wood-framed ranch style. There are plenty of forests and trees everywhere (the region was originally founded on the timber industry).
Property values/prices are quite low, compared to other places I've lived. The area of town along the Menominee River front has a fair number of very large, beautifully styled older houses, very well kept.
Winters do get pretty cold (typically reach as low as -10 to -15F sometime during the winter with an average day ranging from +5 to +20F, although there is plenty of winter sun. (Percentage of sunny days is relatively unrelated to the season, totally unlike the west coast for example).

Quality of life is a relative thing-- depends on what you value. You won't find a huge percentage of people people with advanced degrees there, but neither will you find a huge percentage of really backward people either. (Though there are always a few of both). Most are just regular folks. Not too outgoing, but not to cliquish either. Garison Keilor's Lake Wobegon has come to mind more than a few times...

For raising children, again, it depends on what your objectives/expectations are. I think its a relatively safe area to raise kids, but you do need to keep tabs on the kind of freinds they're making. There has long been an element of beer-drinking, partying and etc. to the high-school culture. Just don't let things get out of hand. I haven't kept up on quality of the schools for quite a while. They do have a junior college (Univ. of WI satellite campus) in Marinette.

Marinette County and nearby counties are great for both summer and winter recreation, if you're an outdoor type.

If you have other specific questions, i'll try to answer them.

Good luck.

[titletown]

I grew up near Marinette and I have a friend that lives there now. It is a safe place to live. Raising a toddler, you have nothing to worry. I currently live in Green Bay right now. I view Marinette as a very small town, slowly getting more stores. I kind of get that impression, coming from the Fox Valley it seems very run down and older buildings. It is very cheap to live there in comparision to the national average. Crime should be low. I personally would live more towards Peshtigo or outside of Marinette. Peshtigo's school system is much better. I kind of get the impression that kids have nothing to do there and find trouble like any other Northern Wisc or U.P. smaller cities. I am not saying all kids have this problem, but it is mainly has to do with bad parenting. This is just my view, now if a Chicago resident would view my city, they would probably view my city as boring, run down, etc. Just different levels the cities are at.

[akjd]

Can you tell me more about Peshtigo? Jobs? Income levels etc.

[Schnidly]

Have a boss from Marinette, not really a desirable place to live or work are his comments.

[Packrat]

Just remember that unless you are beautiful and/or rich its hard to make friends in ANY small town, people have all their ones from grade-school and don't feel the need for any more.