Great Milwaukee Neighborhoods

Milwaukee's Most Popular Neighborhoods

Even though Milwaukee is not the capitol city of Wisconsin, it is the largest. Located on Lake Michigan, this beautiful city is home to almost 600,000 people, and it takes only about two hours to get from the heart of the city to the heart of Chicago, Illinois. If you’re moving to the area, you may feel overwhelmed when trying to choose a neighborhood to live in. We’ve reviewed 11 of them to help you narrow your search.

Brewer's Hill

Named for its proximity to the once-thriving Schlitz Brewing Company, this area has an assortment of unique homes dating back to between the 1850s and 1920s. Part of the neighborhood, now called the Brewer’s Hill Historic District, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are many renovated mansions, but also more affordable condos and cottages. As the neighborhood is on a hill, there are some gorgeous views of the lake. There aren’t a lot of bars or shops in this neighborhood, but there are some trendy spots.

Avenues West

This is another historic neighborhood, west of downtown Milwaukee. Avenues West is a working-class neighborhood that has been undergoing a restoration. The area has yet to develop new trendy spots, but there are new apartments and condos springing up. The area is home to some historic buildings, such as the Ambassador Hotel, the Rave/Eagles Ballroom (a multi-storied concert hall), and the Pabst Mansion. Marquette University is also found in Avenues West. There are more plans to develop the area, and there are new businesses popping up. There are some highly rated restaurants in the neighborhood.

East Town

An eclectic mix of individuals can be found in this neighborhood. Full of mainly newer buildings, it is both a great place to retire and a great place for young people to live. Sitting on the shore of Lake Michigan, this community does not lack entertainment. There are some very popular clubs, along with Milwaukee’s opera and ballet and the Milwaukee Art Museum. There is also Jazz in the Park at Cathedral Square and Bastille Days in the summer. In the winter, people can enjoy the Holiday City of Lights. Shopping and dining are not in short supply, with a couple trendy boutiques and a long list of restaurants. Much of the population in this area lives in newer high-rise apartments, condos, and penthouses.

Washington Park

This neighborhood was named for the large, historic 124-acre park, built in 1891. The park was designed by the same man that designed Central Park in New York, and was the original home of the Milwaukee County Zoo. The zoo had to move in the ‘60s, though, when the freeway needed room to expand. Today, a branch of the Urban Ecology Center resides in the park to fix it up and host programs for children. The houses were built in various styles, from large brick homes, to cottages, to single-family abodes. The population today is largely African American, and the developed area is mostly residential. Shopping and dining are found mostly outside the neighborhood limits.

Sherman Park

On the north side of the city, Sherman Park is a middle-class neighborhood with pretty, tree-lined streets and some large Tudor and Georgian revival homes. First inhabited by some of Milwaukee’s first business owners in the ‘20s and ‘30s, the neighborhood is now home to an eclectic mix of races and religions, including Caucasian, African-American, Latin, and Asian, and Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant. Housing here is mostly quite affordable, and houses range from historic duplexes and bungalows to ‘40s-style Cape Cods. The area is quite residential, and is not home to much shopping or dining.

Walker's Point

A strongly industrial neighborhood in the past, this area has pockets of residential housing, and some new condos are springing up. This neighborhood has a lot going on. There’s some shopping (mainly antiques), and plentiful restaurants, bars, and clubs. The neighborhood is in the Guiness Book of World Records for its Allen-Bradley Clock Tower, the world’s largest four-faced clock. For other entertainment, there’s a youth and family center, cafes, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, and Carte Blanche Studios.

Historic Third Ward

Once a warehouse district, this area is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Historic Third Ward is buzzing with activity. An upper-class neighborhood, housing is largely condos and lofts above trendy, creative businesses. There are antique stores, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, bars and clubs, and theater groups. The area is also home to the Summerfest grounds, the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, an outdoor Riverwalk, and Milwaukee’s main transportation hub. When living in the Historic Third Ward, boredom does not happen often.

Washington Heights

Home to quite an array of beautiful houses, Washington Heights is a strong, prosperous community. There’s an array of Tudors, colonials, and bungalows with porches and big yards. It’s close to Miller Park, and there is some opportunity for shopping and dining along Vilet Street. It is largely residential, though, and is one of the city’s safest places to live. It’s fairly peaceful and great for going on an evening stroll with the dog or family. There are lots of events set up by the Washington Heights Neighborhood Association, and there are several schools within the neighborhood limits. In fact, the administrative office building of Milwaukee Public Schools is found here.

Martin Drive

Near Washington Heights to the west of Milwaukee lies Martin Drive, home of the world headquarters of Harley-Davidson. There are several old apartment buildings and houses, as the area was developed in the 1920s. Martin Drive has been undergoing many improvements and updates lately, which continues to give it a small community, away-from-the-city vibe. The community holds annual neighborhood events, such rummage sales and farmer’s markets. It’s a great place to raise children, as there are schools nearby and a low crime rate. It’s mainly residential, but there have lately been several small businesses moving in.

Bay View

As the name of this neighborhood implies, it lies on the shore of Lake Michigan. First settled in 1834, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Especially in the summer, Bay View is a hubbub of activity. There’s an annual summer festival called South Shore Water Frolics, during which there’s a parade, fireworks, live music, and more. There’s also South Shore Park, which features a trail, sports fields and courts, and a swimming beach. During the winter, ice skating and hockey can be found on the lagoons. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars around, and the neighborhood has its own branch of the Milwaukee public school system.

Riverwest

There is no shortage of activity and diversity in this neighborhood. Located near the UW-Milwaukee campus, there are a lot of students, artists, and young families who enjoy the lower rents. First settled in the 1850s and expanded in the 1880s, the area is home to some very beautiful houses. Since the community is so young, there’s usually a lot going on. There are several organizations, including a neighborhood association, a newspaper, and a couple different co-ops. There’s a plethora of summer festivals, including block parties, and a motorcycle and scooter rally. There’s also the Riverwest Artwalk, which is a tour of artists’ homes and galleries.

Want to learn more about Milwaukee? Check out our Milwaukee Suburbs article.

Are you moving your office in the Milwaukee area? Find some advice in our Seven Steps to a Successful Office Move article!