Relocating to Wisconsin from Chicago

[Merkin]

Germantown or Menomonee Falls
Falls have cheaper rentals, Germantown has cheaper property taxes.
Both have good school districts and half hour to the city.

[ctchaz4]

I was just thinking about these as well. Thank you for suggesting them, as I wasn't sure about schools or larger property. This is very helpful. They are right off 41 as well, so that helps!

[Merkin]

My friend lives happily in Germantown, his wife commutes to FDL everyday and they frequent Chicago because the highway is so close. About 2 hours drive to gold coast.

[ctchaz4]

That information is really reassuring! Very grateful. My parents live on the border with Wisconsin, so it would be about an our then or so for them. Will definitely look at Germantown as well. Thanks for the additional insight!

[deankendrick]

I love staying at Cedarburg, feels like a home. Definitely worth living.

[susancruzs]

I moved to Wisconsin from Illinois 10 years ago. My situation was different as I was retired, no longer had immediate family in Illinois. My sister was living in Upper Michigan and now she lives a block from me, which is nice.

I know family is a consideration, I did not want to leave the Midwest as I have a sister and BIL in Iowa, plus a niece and nephew there, too. Being alone, no kids, I want to be less than 8 hours to all my immediate family.

I do think you have to give serious consideration to length of drive to work, winter conditions and should outweigh the family being a fairly close drive, which isn't a daily thing. While traffic in metro areas is nowhere near the Chicago area traffic issues, a lengthy drive in winter can easily double.

I know you'll do your homework, research, consider being in an area during the week, do test drives, etc., enjoy and good luck in your search.

[Mandy2]

As someone who has lived in the Fox Valley, Madison, Chicago, and now lives in a northern Milwaukee suburb, I would strongly advise you to reconsider a daily commute from either Madison or Milwaukee area to Fond du Lac every day. I do the drive between Milwaukee and Fond du Lac on I41 a lot, and that stretch between Germantown and FDL is absolutely awful in the winter. The Holy Hill stretch of 41 in Washington Co is one of the most dangerous stretches of interstate in the entire state with the most accidents. Snow also tends to blow hard across 41 between West Bend and FDL making visibility awful. And sorry to say 151 from Madison isn't much better.

If it's an easy winter, you're good, but a snowy winter is going to make you hate the commute.

[ctchaz4]

Thank you so much Mandy2 and susancrusz. Very good perspectives! I will definitely consider both of your suggestions. Thank you again for taking the time to give me your thoughts. Very helpful!

[TIA GIGI]

What about Hartford or West Bend? Land is less expensive, so you could get your son a huge yard! Public schools are excellent and a lot of new housing is going up.