Should I move to WI? (Madison, Waupun: health insurance, travel, rent)

[Iggyb2]

My husband worked in Downtown Chicago for 5 yrs. When we lived in Naperville, 33 miles away. It was common for him to call me 11 miles out and say, "well, I can see the Sears tower", and we're in a dead standstill--he'd leave at 5 a.m. We have lived in Wisconsin 2 yrs since moving back from Virginia around D.C. We both grew up in Wisconsin in Waukesha and Oconomowoc. I went to UW-Milwaukee for 3 yrs (I commuted).
I do not think one cannot sum up Milwaukee in one sentence. It's not as diverse as Chicago. In Milwaukee, bad areas are in pockets, and I think compared to the "bad" areas of Chicago, they really don't compare. Milwaukee's bad areas are smaller, and not as violent (there are actually gang squads in Chicago). Chicago's social life is larger than Milwaukee's. Chicago is great to shop and eat. When I am in Milwaukee, I don't feel as "swallowed up" by the city as I do in Chicago. My biggest gripe about Chicago is the traffic. In Milwaukee, there are so many "other ways" you can go to get around if something is clogged up. In Chicago, I absolutely hate the highway. The tollways make the highway a prison if there's an accident or a problem, or sometimes if there is no reason at all. They are unpredictable. The construction when it happens takes forever. Milwaukee, you can always take Capitol, Wisconsin, Greenfield, and a ton of other East West, North South streets and for the most part, it's very travelable. A traffic jam in Milwaukee is NOTHING compared to a traffic jam in Chicago or D.C. The traffic starts earlier in Chicago, and lasts later. The traffic jams are longer and slower. Where if you go in around 6-6:30 in Milwaukee, it's smooth sailing. Evening is still good around 3 pm and after 6 in Milwaukee to travel. Between those times, things may be slower, but usually you're moving. Cannot say the same about Chicago. So what one may consider Chicago proper in terms of time and space, covers Milwaukee as well as areas that if you didn't know are named other things you would assume are part of Milwaukee. Shorewood is gorgeous, beautiful historic houses. Wauwatosa has some really beautifully maintained houses and beautifully kept yards. There are many large areas of nice neighborhoods, like Chicago. Price, openess, and road system make Milwaukee the more desireable for me.

[43north87west]

Honestly, yes, you could have a good go of it.

I wouldn't go to Sheboygan... after LI you may choke on the small town, although it is only 40 minutes from a metro area of 1.5 million people.

Milwaukee--you could enjoy that and there is enough variety of people, suburbs, city, and whatever you're looking for. You do get the conspicuous consumption, but there are livable areas of the city and suburbs where you will not be required to participate in that. I think Milwaukee is underrated, even by those who live there. There is a good amount of arts, plus cultural diversity. No more segregated than NYC or Boston. Nice area too, weather is not going to be a shocker from Long Island, although slightly colder.

In addition to that, Madison is very nice and cosmopolitan, and has great recreation opportunities, a Big Ten university, and a decent climate. And the Twin Cities area, as another contributor said, has many options. The state has plenty of beer guzzlers and brat-eaters, but that's exaggerated. Most of it is not like that.

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by daisy78

HI!

I moved to WI 5 years ago from Seattle area. If you move here get ready to step back in time, fashion, music etc.. The state is made up of Beer, Brats, Cheese, The Packers and The Badger. Pretty much nothing else. Northern Wi has more trees and southern Wi more farm fields. I currently live in Middleton, which is pretty much Madison. Cost of living is very high for a midwest town for my opinion. The wages don't compare to rent at all. For a decent 2 bedroom apartment expect $800 plus. Moving out here I took a $4 pay cut and was paying the same for rent, OUCH!! For teaching jobs, funny reading past replies and I bet my consin is the French teacher in Fon du Lac, all I hear about is how much they are paying for healthcare. Yes healthcare out here is very $$$, just for me alone I would have to pay $100 a month for a HMO and that's not counting dental. I do know that there are teaching jobs out here. But if I were you I would consider the La Crosse area very very cheap cost of living!!! Have been look to move to that area and very easily can you get a 2 bedroom apartment for $500 if not less. Plus the house are a lot less. Plus it's very beautiful!!
Milwaukee is a very dirty city.

But if you are looking for beauitful scenery and a small town atmosphere and very decent shopping I would head to La Crosse, plus I have hear that their school system is great also.

I hope this helps

take care and best wishes

You lived in Seattle and complain WI is overpriced? Wow.

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by Drover

Well for all its warts I'd still rather hole up in Milwaukee proper than most of its suburbs. I'm just not a suburbs type of person. I bet that'll change the minute I start having kids.

The benefit of living in Chicago is that, while the nice to not-so-nice ratios are for all intents and purposes equivalent to Milwaukee, they're also both bigger, so if you're in a nice area you've typically got a lot more "nice" buffer between you and the not-so-nice.

Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, River Hills etc...are 3-5 miles from downtown.

You absolutely positively could not pay me to live West of 294 in Chicago ever. ...for many reasons. The only two suburbs I would even consider in Chicago would be Evanston and Oak Park. Chicago itself has many good areas etc...Milwaukee is really a miniature version of Chicago, as much as Chicagoans don't like to admit it. Just far smaller in quantity. The "far" North suburb of Mequon is 15 miles form downtown...quick skip into the city.

The lower East side and Third Ward are very nice, in the city. Brewer's Hill also is nice. You either haven't really explored Milwaukee or haven't in a long time.

[Fishtacos]

Let me also add that the repeated hilarity in this thread of people who think Wisconsin is hot and humid in the summer. LOL. Seriously people, have you ever lived or spent time in the lower Midwest, the South, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic etc....? Wisconsin? Not even close.

Always cracks me up. example: Summer is June-Sept...and to some people from other places, June is more of a nice Spring.

Wisconsin hot and humid...lol....thanks for the laugh.

To original poster, WI has many types of cities, towns, and people. urban, suburban, rural. Weather is very good June-Sept. Fall is cool by many standards but not bad. Winter and Spring are not selling points.

The people from WI that bash Milwaukee all live in very small towns that have posted in this thread. Plenty of different types of areas(even within Milwaukee itself btw) across the state.

[Dolly]

Yes, I kind of thought it was funny when people were complaining about the "hot" weather today. We have been absolutely delighted that it is almost August and we have only just now turned on the air conditioning. In southern Illinois, we have been running the air conditioning since early June! Wisconsin people do not understand "hot" until they have lived down south! Count your blessings here if this is your hot summer weather.

[berries]

its cold and were real rude other than that its nice till you get bit by a tick a skeeter with west nile or a bear

[Livewire]

Ive only been there a couple of times and yes, would move there, most likely just outside of Madison. There are areas there that are pretty comparable to Az here, as far as wages and housing, and despite the brutal winters you can always bundle up. Out here, in the summer, you can only shed so much in the firey furnaces in the desert. We usually average 110, give or take, here.
I was particularly interested in Albany, Evansville and Middleton. Though one may have to commute for work, at least its not too much of a drive and probably not more than Im doing now on a daily basis to work.

[tattoojack]

Think twice about the move to Wisconsin, High Taxes, Too many Drunks, Cold winters, Humid summers (what summer). Main topics of discussion Deer Hunting and the Packers. Did I say that Drinking is part of Wisconsin Culture! Life long Wisconsin resident, soon to to be New Mexico resident.

[Livewire]

I may have already answered this one but the responses are soooo mnay pages long, so will reply again.
I've only been there twice in the past few years and fell in love with its gorgeous green pastures, hospitality of the small town people, tons of open land, overall everything. For the right reasons, heck yea I would move there!