Multi-Racial family: looking to move to more diverse area Milw.-Metro-Suggestions? (Milwaukee: neighborhoods, school district) - Wisconsin (WI) - City-Data Forum

Ktlund · 06-15-2012, 01:55 AM

Hi, we are 2 white parents who have 2 black adopted children, from birth (age 7 & 9). We need to move to the Milwaukee area and "bust-out" of New Berlin (why living here, long story). My husband works on the east side of Waukesha, I work in West Allis (though my commute would not be an issue).

Any suggestions on where to move? I'm aware of the Milwaukee and segregation. We need to move for our kids, and our whole family. Our income averages around $65K (take home). I also realize many areas are divided due to economics/income.

We talked about Wauwatosa, but I'm not so keen on that idea. I know Glendale, Brown Deer area is a choice (though a commute for work). What about River West Area? Looking for any suggestions.

Thanks, so glad I found this site! Katie

Jesse276 · 06-15-2012, 09:14 AM

In my mind, you might want to be a little more specific about what type of neighborhood you would like to live in. You mentioned you currently live in New Berlin, if you like more spread out areas you might want to look towards Brown Deer or some of the better areas on the Northwest side of Milwaukee. There's a suburban neighborhood north of Good Hope Road, West of Teutonia & East of 43rd street in Milwaukee. Despite areas to the south being a bit transient, this pocket neighborhood is stable & diverse... if you like suburban areas check out this neighborhood. Otherwise, there's another pocket west of 51st street, east of 60th street, north of Good Hope Rd. & south of Bradley.

Considering where you work, if you're thinking about Milwaukee I would check out the Story Hill neighborhood, generally parallel to Bluemound/Wisconsin Ave from ~48th west to Tosa. The area isn't quite suburban but you have a decent sized yard while you can walk to stores/restaurants/Brewer games depending on where you buy. This is also a stable area with a fair amount of diversity.

Are schools a concern?

ultravioletfly · 06-15-2012, 10:05 PM

May I ask why you're not keen about Wauwatosa? That's generally the go-to answer for diverse suburbs.

anotherelmosworld · 06-16-2012, 11:38 AM

I live in the Maple Dale-Indian Hill (Bayside, Glendale, Fox Point) school district, and love it. We also are caucasian parents with an african american adopted child, and we find the district and the area to be very supportive. Maple Dale prides itself in being the "united nations" of schools, and the student population is pretty diverse (the teachers and staff, not so diverse). Indian Hill, the elementary school is K4-2nd grade, Maple Dale is 3rd-8th, then it feeds into Nicolet. Our kids are 4, 7 and 9- I would be happy to talk to you more if you are interested.

Milwaukee City · 06-16-2012, 12:51 PM

I think people might be surprised how diverse some of Milwaukee's whitest suburbs schools are, so while the suburb maybe 90% white you'll find schools like Whitefish Bay Dominican, Nicolet, Shorewood, Brown Deer, Wauwatosa schools and even West Allis schools have a good mix of ethnicity. In Milwaukee County where most of the non-white ethnicity lies in two main areas you cannot live in MKE County without mixing with other groups, whether your shopping at the mall, grocery store, at the lakefront or at a Milwaukee county park or just going for a walk, Milwaukee county is mixed a lot more than just where people live since we all work and play all over the county.