Should I move to WI? (Milwaukee, Madison: mortgage, credit, student loans)

[nattieandtjmom]

I have lived in Wisconsin all of my life. I was born in Green Bay and now live in De Pere which is right next to GB. It is a wonderful State to live in. We do have high taxes, but we also have some of the best roads in the country and in the winter time the plows are usually out right away. It is has to snow a lot for schools to close and schools in Green Bay almost never close. The rent and housing in the Green Bay area is not that high you can get a very nice house for 250,000 and a descent one for 125,000. My husband and I do not make a lot of money less than 60k last year yet we are able to have a nice three bedroom in a very good neighborhood.
The schools in the state are very good for the most part. There are some inner-city schools especially in Milwaukee that are iffy. Were I live you do have the option of sending your kids to a different school if you don't like the one in your district. If they are not full.
In my opinion shopping in eastern part of wi is the best in the Green Bay Fox
Valley region.
If you do come you will find a state of caring hardworking people. Were there is still areas of forest and farm land. And since you are from NY the winters should not bother you all that much. Also not everyone in Green Bay is obsessed with the Packers.
Hope that helps

[paddock_laker]

Wisconsin is great. Milwaukee schools are failing, as are Kenosha. Kenosha is in a better situation though. (Local joke: Kenosha? Of course it has a zoo. Bradford High!) Central High, in Paddock Lake, is the ninth best in the state as rated by Newsweek, and close to such large cities as Chicago, Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Racine. Plus, all of those hopes are very easy, and for granted, in Wisconsin. Although prices on homes are rising after the SE became the developer's dream, it's just that: it's a developer's dream. Condos and neighborhoods are going up everywhere. It's close to big cities, and the most unique mix of rural and urban you'll ever find. You can get townhomes in the Bristol Bay subdivision for about $130,000 with a view of farmland. Kenosha is great for entertainment, and for a city of 100,000 people, the crime rate is extremely low. This is contrary to Racine and Milwaukee. Of course, Milwaukee would be not much difference with NYC, only the homes are bigger and cheaper. It would be what you're used to with a better twist. And drive two small counties over and you'd find a state park. Racine is disreccomended, because although everything is cheaper, they're smaller, and for a city of 85,000 there's a lot of crime. It rivals the Milwaukee metro in crimes. On the news at least half of the crimes happen in Racine.

[paddock_laker]

Oh yeah, in Kenosha county, there's Woodmans, which is AWESOME and huge. Grocery store. Although we get hosed on all the other taxes, there is no tax on food.

[proud wisconsinite]

I'm just infuriated at the closed-mindedness of so many of these posts. Fondefender is one of the only posts that is sensible and honest. I too have lived in Fond du Lac all of my life except for a couple of years in Ohio and I have to say the top thing that brought me back is the people here. I've traveled extensively in the states and abroad and have found that Wisconsin people, particularly in the Fond du Lac and Fox Valley area are friendly, decent, hard working people. You will have your drunks, bad neighbors, bad parents, bad drivers, rednecks, etc. in ANY city ANYWHERE! I was raised in Fond du Lac and I'm now happily raising my daughter here. It is a place I can feel safe and I think that "ihatefondy" needs to get her head out of her rear end and realize that she sounds extremely arrogant and rude. You're giving MN natives a bad name with your attitude. Any place is what you make it first of all, secondly, maybe if you can't make ends meet on $60,000+ and a part-time income then you need to re-evaluate your spending. I make less than half that and my husband works only part-time and we are doing just fine, own a nice home on the southeast side of fondy in a nice neighborhood with half the tax cost you have. Many people buy houses that are too big and expensive and live way above their means driving huge SUV's or trucks they don't need...are you one of them? You certainly come across as one of those mom's that no one can stand that thinks she and her kids can do no wrong. Good luck finding the perfect city, maybe you need to open your eyes and stop being so judgemental and self-righteous!

Thank you Fondefender!

[Enelra32]

I grew up as an Army Brat and have lived in quite a few places. I always longed to go home to Wisconsin the entire time I was growing up. We would come to visit about once a year and even lived here three times while my Dad was over seas. The countryside is beautiful. If you ever talk to a trucker, who's come through here in the fall, they will tell you it's the most beautiful place to be at that time of the year.

Most of the small towns here are hard to get into... personably... I live in Mauston, WI as of the moment and my family is from here originally.... it still took me years to 'fit in'. I only live here so my son is near his Dad while he is growing up. In about 5 years I will be selling my house and moving on... but, probably still in WI.

Our taxes are some of the highest in the nation... our beautiful lands are also ranked as some of the greatest 'highs' when you see them. The people can be very snobbish in one area and very outgoing and friendly in others... up north they are very protective of the land and therefore very snobish. Madison is stuck-up, over rated, over priced and political, if anyone wants my opinion. Milwaukee is a dumping ground. Green Bay is Football, Football, Football. And, Mid WI is ... where can I find a job that pays enough to pay the bills without traveling 60 or more miles. As for the area between Green Bay and Milwaukee... I know it is beautiful... but I don't know a lot more about it. There is one town I've lived in, out of the 5, that I would recommend. (I've lived in Elroy [home of Tommy Thompson ], Mauston, Sparta, La Crosse, and Ogema-up north.)

La Crosse, WI, which borders MN along the Mississippi River, is a wonderful town. The people are the friendliest in WI, in my opinion. I lived there for about 2 years while I went to WWTC. My son was involved in a terrible fire accident while we were there. He was 10 years old, and lost his best friend. I worried that people would blame him and our family for what happened. I was surprised when, instead I kept hearing stories of their youth and the stupid things they did growing up and playing with fire, that could have turned out just as bad.

I never felt out of place in La Crosse, even though I was a single parent with 3 children, working part time and going to school. Every where I went I felt welcome. I had the opportunity to eat at a few of the nicest resturants, Piggy's (which, sadly no longer exists) and the Frieghthouse, and at some of the smaller cafe's and fast food resturants. I went out downtown to 2nd and 3rd st.'s and also to some of the fancier clubs. I shopped at the mall and also a lot of smaller shops. I video-taped a couple of high class weddings and some not so high class. I helped my ex-boyfriend work in some businesses on their computer networks. Throughout all of these experiences, I only ran into friendliness. Always a smile, hello, how are you. It seemed like, even those who were frazzled, took the time to at least be polite.. excuse me, thank you, please... these were every day words to be heard.

Now, I know I'm making La Crosse sound like a perfect town... and it's not. I just loved it there, and maybe I'm a little biased. There were always problems to deal with too. The same problems we all face in every town, USA.

Drugs, crime (although not as high, I don't think), large lost companies (like Old Style Beer Manufacturing and La Crosse Footwear.) Which has made the years since I moved away, a lot harder on the peole who've stayed... but I've been back to visit a few times, especially since my daughter moved there recently. And I'm still greeted with Hello, how are you, excuse me, please, thank you... everywhere I stop. It makes me want to move back... especially when I drive around and feel at peace just being there... taking in the scenery... in town or out.

PS-Grand-dad's Bluff.. is deffinantly a sight to check out if you even go visit!

[Enelra32]

Colorado is beautiful. I'm from WI, but as I said in my other message, I grew up as an Army Brat.

I lived at Ft. Carson, Co. for about 4 years. We went camping, horse-back riding, pic-nicing, visited the Garden of the Gods, visited the mountians, Santa Clause land, some of the 'Ghost towns' etc. I remember it as one of the fondest places to live... as a child. Then again, I also met my best friend of 31 years there too.

My parents, on the other hand, although they also enjoyed the scenery, did not like the attitudes of the people in that state. I've went back to visit just about 4 years ago and understand why now. They are very stuck up. The prices for everything are just outragous and middle class is treated like they live in the slums.

So... in my opinion... Colorado is a beautiful and fun place to visit... but to live there is a whole new world of experience... and may not be a good choice.

[Enelra32]

Originally Posted by antipode12

Hey everybody --

After 32 years of living in New York (Long Island), I'm taking the plunge. Everytime I ask about places to move, I hear about WI. Milwaukee is a metropolis; Madison has a vibrant culture; Sheboygan is apparently a great place to raise a family.

Or at least that's what I've heard.

Truth?

I'm a high school teacher. How are the schools? Supported by the communities? Strong? Failing? In need of teachers? How tied are the schools to the property tax base? Do people resent the schools?

Mainly, I'm looking to get out of myopic, conspicuously consuming, rude, arrogant, testy, and petty (and oh so overpriced) NY. I'd like to land in a place where people have some civility and kindness, some education, and where there's culture, entertainment and recreation.

How do you think I'll fare in WI?

Thanks in advance for any insights,
Justin

Check this out:
http://wi.localschooldirectory.com/s...hp/cPath/19215

[antipode12]

OK, so after reading all of your hearty discussion (wow), it's obvious I'm going to have to take a trip out there. Maybe next month...

Impressions: I think I'd like Madison, but it seems isolated.
North and West WI will be too much of a change for me. I'm not looking for anything too "small town" or rural.


Milwaukee might be a little too "urban" -- gritty, etc. But I think I might like to live *near* Milwaukee, or maybe even nearer to Chicago. Suburbs, or outer neighborhoods you'd recommend?

Concerns: My girlfriend and I are both teachers. Can we afford it there? How do other teachers fare? How expensive is it? We both have a car with those bills, will both need to pay our rent, and have the usual bills -- utilities, cable, student loans, groceries, etc. Nothing extravagant. We'd really like to start saving for a retirement fund, though. What do you folks think?

[lem]

Personally, if i were to move to wisconsin it'd be the Green Bay/Fox Cities area for the simple fact the economy is booming,jobs are being created by the influx of buisnesses planting roots in the area, and the seemingly hectic pace the region is growing population wise.Economy wise this might help, check out the meduim size cities

http://www.inc.com/magazine/20040301/top25.html

Green Bay has UWGB,NWTC, and St. Norbert College within a 10 mile radius of each other, Green Bay West,East,Preble,Southwest,Bayport,DePere, and West DePere as high schools all within 10 miles of each other and many more grammar and middle schools in between. Not bad for a city of 102,000 with the county being around 225,000. As a teacher like yourself that has to be a positive thing. Green Bay sorta has a middle city atmosphere, well because it has an NFL team so you can pretty much find anything you want there. The diversity is absolutely awesome and only getting better as the years go by.

Good luck with your search and hopefully Northeastern Wisconsin might provide what your looking for.

[BlackKnight]

Teaching salaries in Wisconsin are pretty good and the retirement system is one of the best you can find. It is also possible to find less expensive places to live. The comments about the cost of living in Madison are pretty accurate - you'll spend a lot more to live in that area for housing, but most other things are comparable to other parts of the state.

What are your teaching areas (you and your girlfriend)? There is a real shortage in some fields that allow you to get better offers than others. I work for a school district that will pay for related professional experience in certain teaching fields putting you higher on the salary schedule. In some cases, we have even paid bonuses and moving expenses. Reply or send an e-mail and let me know your fields. I might even have a job you would be interested in.