Can anyone tell me about Janesville or Lake Delton? (Milwaukee: homes, school)

[pioneer8]

My husband has an opportunity to relocate in the near future. We are considering many places and Wisconsin is now in the running. So exciting, yet I suppose I am concerned about the cost of living. We want to have access to a thriving place (like Madison is being described), but we don't want to live there. We love the country. If we make about $80,000 to 100,000 a year- is a home with four beds... nice lot... private... safe ...attainable? With heating costs and taxes, we are a bit unsure of how to crunch numbers. We have lived in Florida and briefly TX. - both have no state income tax. Is our income to small to live comfortably? Will we be struggling?

Can anyone give me examples of heating costs?

I spoke with a realtor in Janesville and the area sounded so perfect for us. She said it's safe, nice, and a bit boring (smile) ... That's our speed as long as we can get to culture etc...

Thank you all.

[springfield]

Janesville is the town for you. A very nice city, clean, nice parks, good school system, good medical facilities and great shopping. I live 35 minutes away and do the vast majority of my shopping in the city of Janesville. It is small in comparison to Madison and Milwaukee, but has everything to offer. I've found it to be a friendly community with nice people. I'm sure you will enjoy it. Lovely country-side and nice place to live.

[WIer]

Janesville may be a good place for you. It's relatively large (i.e., more a small city than a small town), and it's quite central--an hour or less to Madison, not terribly far from Beloit, less than 2 hours to Milwaukee, only a couple hours to Chicago--if you need true urban areas. Janesville has the usual assortment of WalMart, Menards (kind of a local Home Depot), supermarkets, and so on, plus it's right off the interstate for easy access to the cities.

Also Janesville is surrounded by farming country with assorted small towns sprinkled throughout.

On heating costs--it will totally depend on the type of heat you have (propane, electric, natural gas, hot water boiler, baseboard heat, radiant heat, and so on), how well insulated your home is, how large your home is, etc.--so people can't really give you estimates that will be meaningful for your situation. In general I'd suggest you look for a very well insulated place with a newer heating system of whatever type if heating costs are a key concern to you. Then keep the thermostats low (I never bump mine about about 62) and get used to wearing sweaters or sweatshirts in the winter.

Originally Posted by pioneer8

My husband has an opportunity to relocate in the near future. We are considering many places and Wisconsin is now in the running. So exciting, yet I suppose I am concerned about the cost of living. We want to have access to a thriving place (like Madison is being described), but we don't want to live there. We love the country. If we make about $80,000 to 100,000 a year- is a home with four beds... nice lot... private... safe ...attainable? With heating costs and taxes, we are a bit unsure of how to crunch numbers. We have lived in Florida and briefly TX. - both have no state income tax. Is our income to small to live comfortably? Will we be struggling?

Can anyone give me examples of heating costs?

I spoke with a realtor in Janesville and the area sounded so perfect for us. She said it's safe, nice, and a bit boring (smile) ... That's our speed as long as we can get to culture etc...

Thank you all.

[pioneer8]

Very positive.Thanks to both replies. Can anyone give me anactual personal example of age of home, square ftage, heating type, and cost in the winter for heating etc.This would help me immensly. Presently (in TX), I have 2500 square ft (more than I could have EVER dreamed of in Florda)... It snowed twice this winter (hardly)... got into the 20's a couple of times.Our heating bills were tiny because we hardly had to run it with the fireplace burning. I just have no clue what to expect- except for what this website has taught me. I dream of snow, but hope with my husband's promotion, we don't lose money because of winter cost. I hope I am making sense. Thanks Again!

[Sarscasm]

all i know about janesville that people haven't said is the heavy klan ties.

but idk if that's a problem because i know 2 black kids from there.

[pioneer8]

Is this really an issue? We are not African American, but an openminded population is extremely important to us. Is the KKK a problem in Wisconsin? I did a search on hate groups etc... and saw very little difference there compared to most U.S. places. Can someone else give their thoughts on this very important subject.

[pioneer8]

O.K. well, I did a quick online seach and it looks as if the KKK does have a history in in Wisconsin...Janesville, Beloit, ??? I can't remember where else... I'm sorry your state is new to me. It looks so beautiful and in many ways my hopes are up, I'm just so concerned now. A diverse area or at least, a tolerant and accepting area is so important to me. I realize racism is everywhere (sadly) to one degree or another, but would you say that it is more prominent there in Wisconsin as compared to somewhere else??? I'd appreciate anyones thoughts on this. Thanks so much.

[WIer]

Originally Posted by pioneer8

Is this really an issue? We are not African American, but an openminded population is extremely important to us. Is the KKK a problem in Wisconsin? I did a search on hate groups etc... and saw very little difference there compared to most U.S. places. Can someone else give their thoughts on this very important subject.

Good heavens, NO! No, this is NOT an issue. I have lived in southern WI for years and years, not too far from Janesville, Beloit, etc., and I've never heard ANYTHING about the KKK, nor any particular broad prejudices against any ethic, racial, political, etc. group anywhere in WI (at least outside of Milwaukee, which is a large city not too far from Chicago; I'm not suggesting Milwaukee has prejudiced people, as I don't know Milwaukee at all).

Remember anyone can say anything in this forum, and not everything stated is founded in facts and truth, necessarily.

[WIer]

There's significantly LESS prejudice in WI than in many other states. I have traveled in all 50 states, have lived in a number of states, and continue traveling frequently to many.

No, racism is LESS prominent in WI than in many other states.

I really don't know Milwaukee, and that city, being a large city not too far from Chicago, may (or may not) have some issues, but the rest of the state is not Milwaukee. Madison is definitely multi-ethnic, multi-racial, etc., and the rest of the state certainly is not overloaded with racially prejudiced people.

Just as an example, parts of WI have large communities of Hmong (from SE Asia). The state as a whole and communities where they have congregated are very involved with helping them assimulate, find work and homes, get education, and so on.

Do NOT be concerned. WI is diverse, tolerant, and accepting. Of course there are bad eggs anywhere, but you will find fewer in WI than in many, many other states.

Originally Posted by pioneer8

O.K. well, I did a quick online seach and it looks as if the KKK does have a history in in Wisconsin...Janesville, Beloit, ??? I can't remember where else... I'm sorry your state is new to me. It looks so beautiful and in many ways my hopes are up, I'm just so concerned now. A diverse area or at least, a tolerant and accepting area is so important to me. I realize racism is everywhere (sadly) to one degree or another, but would you say that it is more prominent there in Wisconsin as compared to somewhere else??? I'd appreciate anyones thoughts on this. Thanks so much.

[pioneer8]

Phew! Yes. I can see very clearly that these forums can be a challenging way to get info. (smile)
I am trying to get data from many different sources. I really appreciate you taking the time to give me your feedback. I have so many questions. We are hoping to take a trip there in November. I'm so very excited.
You know, I've lived in FL and now TX and I can say, without a doubt, that my neighbors and family in either place would have different experiences and opinions than I about each of those places. It is sort of a strange phenomena. I suppose the extreme differences of opinion come from a varity of reasons. Maybe some of it has to do with the shape one's personnel life is in (ie: If they are going through a hard time, maybe the place they reside seems more negative to them?)... What are they involved or not involved in? (ie: Do they spend their time at bars, playgrounds, church, hiking, at home?) ... With what do they surround themselves?
Sometimes a place is largely what you make of it. I realize that we don't always have control over certain things, but on the whole- if a person is a positive thinker, they generally have better experiences.- I'm sure I don't know how it is that some people are just out and out wrong with facts.
As far as quality of people from state to state, I've found that they are generally the same everywhere- Nice, smart, rude, ignorant, secure, insecure, bad drivers, good drivers, poor, rich, nosey, know it all, reserved, outgoing, fat, thin, well dressed, poorly dressed... Just seems that way to me.

O.K. , enough of that, sorry.

If any Wisconsiner- ite?? would consider a private email discussion to answer my vast ammount of questions, please private message me. Thank you so much!!! Have a great Sunday!