Brown Deer? (Milwaukee, Menomonee Falls, Mequon: apartments, house, public schools)

[Fishtacos]

Original poster I am guessing lives in Champaign Urbana. Are you looking for similar small rural type community? Milwaukee generally speaking is a smaller and different version of a St. Louis as opposed to where you are coming from. If you like St. Louis at all, Milwaukee is a different but not drastically.

The further North you go, the quieter it gets and more small town, rural feel it gets. I think you would do well in Glendale in that particularly geography. However as I said before, many many choices anywhere in metro Milwaukee or outskirts. Each suburb in that area, though close by has a different feel to it. All of the areas are very suburban feel to them. If you want more of a small town, even quieter feel, keep going North. Brown Deer will be the most affordable burb on that side of town. Parts of Glendale as well. The East Side of Hwy 43 suburbs are all somewhat similar(Shorewood, Whitefish Bay and Fox Point) older homes, safe, good schools, not a lot of bang for buck, houses very close together smaller, etc.....the North West side has more bang for buck, space, etc...very different feel than the Lake Side suburbs. And, once you get to Mequon and further North, feel is more small townish and less a burb of Milwaukee.

I'd stick to the North side suburbs first. On either side of Hwy and see what you like and can afford and find. However if this becoimes an issue for you, there are other options in other parts of town and the commute is not bad at all.

[mel55880]

Originally Posted by Packrat

Be carefull-the MKE ghetto is every bit as bad as Chicago's.

What? Are you crazy? The MKE ghetto is not even close to that of Chicago's! Obviously you have never heard the horror stories of Chicago's south side.

To be honest, I, a young, white woman, have not only driven through the worst parts of Milwaukee, but I have actually walked to meet a friend in the heart of the ghetto and have never been bothered!

I could guarantee you I could never do that in Chicago's ghetto. I have even been told it's not safe to drive in the south side of Chicago!

I hope that your post was meant to be a joke!

[Softtail_Honey]

We currently live in Brown Deer and I would agree with a previous poster.....the schools are in decline. The HS right now has it so that EVERYONE in the school has to wear name badges with their picture around their neck and have altogether done away with pep rallies after a gun was flashed at a pep rally last year. Also, the basketball hoops at the schools, this summer, were "clubbed" because of gunshots being heard and less than perfect behavior while school was not in session. Also, recently there was a man that was mugged and he was beat up and shot in the leg. It is not good and we are planning to be out before our 8yo goes into the middle school(which is 5th grade). I wouldn't walk @ night alone. Its not like it was 6 years ago when we moved here. Any of the previous Milwaukee suburbs mentioned in this thread would be a much better choice. Good luck to you!

[EnjoyEP]

Correct me if I am wrong here...(and I might be)...but in terms of living in Brown Deer, Brown Deer seems a) a quite large suburb (land mass wise) and b) quite diverse in terms of some areas (generally the ones closer to the Milwaukee border) being a bit more sketchy, but some areas (the ones closer to Glendale, River Hills, Mequon, etc.) being quite darn nice?

I was up in the Mequon/Germantown area a few weekends ago, and we were driving towards finding I-43, and I was in this really wooded, quiet, nice area, and I was sure it was Mequon. I looked at the signs, and to my surprise, it was Brown Deer! Then I explored more of BD, and I found some really nice areas around Glendale's border, etc., too.

But then again, I would never want to live in the BD area around 76th and Brown Deer Rd.

[Softtail_Honey]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

Correct me if I am wrong here...(and I might be)...but in terms of living in Brown Deer, Brown Deer seems a) a quite large suburb (land mass wise) and b) quite diverse in terms of some areas (generally the ones closer to the Milwaukee border) being a bit more sketchy, but some areas (the ones closer to Glendale, River Hills, Mequon, etc.) being quite darn nice?

I was up in the Mequon/Germantown area a few weekends ago, and we were driving towards finding I-43, and I was in this really wooded, quiet, nice area, and I was sure it was Mequon. I looked at the signs, and to my surprise, it was Brown Deer! Then I explored more of BD, and I found some really nice areas around Glendale's border, etc., too.

But then again, I would never want to live in the BD area around 76th and Brown Deer Rd.

Pretty much your right. To the north of brown deer rd and to the east of 43rd/sherman blvd the areas are pretty nice. South and West are shady. But everyone for Brown Deer has to use the same public schools so your screwed. lol Even at Brown Deer Park a couple of weeks ago there was some shooting. I don't like it here anymore so you won't get me to say too much that is nice. lol Oh and for a 1000 sq ft house worth about 150 grand we get to pay almost 4 grand for taxes. Did I say I am not happy here? lol

[butterflymama]

I have to say "mohawk41" is right. now I dont want to say anything bad about any neighborhood, but my grandma was in Browndeer for years, and it was nice, was.... it has changed and we moved her out over ten years ago and very glad we did. its nice on paper, but I would not move there, look for a surrounding area with a bit more of a work drive time for better life at home...my cousin is in cederburg has 3 acres and loves it there! this is just my opinion. Diversity is nice, but you need good solid people who care about their kids around you.

[sunderlund]

In the ten years I have lived here I have seen some nasty things happen , each year gets a little worse. We initially said we would move after the first "bad signs; " that came and went ( attempted homicide outside of my house ) and then we said "well after the first shooting ," which came and went. I am not sure what we are waiting for , except that it is cheap to live here. But the question is , will it improve or decline?
I never walk at night and even during the day have had some trouble.


My projection is that it will not improve , it will become predominantly a multi family per dwelling neighborhood ( already common , a lot of subletting is to be seen here) and will start to look more like Milwaukee neighborhoods nearby.

I am waiting for the first serious shoot out or gang activity , yep , then I will move.
Odd thing is I can sell my house right now if I want to since these houses seem to be in demand. Naw , wait till the shoot out.

[willowtree]

very upset to hear about the comments about Brown Deer. People that live here absolutly love it. It is the perfect place to have a first home(like myself) or stay here forever(ask all the neighbors!!) Its close to everything and is very quiet. There is crime everywhere, and parts of Mequon and Menomonee Falls are just as close to the "bad" areas. If your above middle class by all means move to Mequon or surrounding areas. We'll see each other at alot of the same places.!!

[ziggyluv]

I agree with Willowtree. My family and I have lived in Brown Deer for over 7 years now, and really like it. I guess I would classify it as mostly a blue collar community, but unlike other posters, we haven't had quite the negative experiences that they have had.

We have wonderful, friendly, quiet neighbors. We also live close to the schools, and it is still a very quiet neighborhood. I also agree that you get a bit more house in terms of affordability than you would if you considered Cedarburg, Mequon or Fox Point.

I really can't relate to the unfortunate negativity I've seen posted here. I certainly can't be the minority. My neighbors have all lived here for many years and have no intention of moving. I can't say much about those who mention any "decline" they've seen, but regardless, Brown Deer remains a lovely place to live in my opinion.

[Not quite 60]

Wow! I cannot believe what I am reading. We have lived in Brown Deer for thirty years and found it was a great place to raise our children. The lots are nice size and ours was a baseball diamond for years when all the children gather in our back yard to play ball. I live in the poor section(so called by some bloggers) and believe me it is safe. The schools have gone downhill due to open enrollment and Chapter 220, and administration who bury there heads in the sand, and don't realize it is time for Brown Deer to combine with another school district. It has a great recreation program, police department, fire department, and health department. If you want to pay for putting in water and sewer connections then move to Bayside or Mequon. There children have lots of issues with hard core drugs, and have other problems like a volunteer fire department. It depends what you want if a big fancy house with three acres of land is what your after live in ozaukee county or River Hills. If you want a middle class living then pick Glendale, Brown Deer the other North Shore suburbs do not have yards.