Milwaukee is a Midwestern haven, and has risen in popularity for those looking to live in Wisconsin. With its natural views, stellar food scene, and endless ways to spend your days, it shouldn’t come as a shock that nearly 569,300 people live in Milwaukee. As you begin to look at where to live in the area, there’s two key points to keep in mind – the median home sale price is $199,000 and the average rent price in Milwaukee is $1,166.
But if you’re not sure that you want to live in the heart of Milwaukee, we’ve got you covered. At Redfin, we’ve rounded up a list of the 10 best Milwaukee suburbs to consider living in – and they’re all under 20 miles from the city. That way you can live close to Milwaukee and all its unique activities.
#1: St. Francis
Median home price: $221,500
Average sale price per square foot: $233
Distance from Milwaukee: 5 miles
St. Francis, WI homes for sale
St. Francis, WI apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $221,500, St. Francis is the first on our list of Milwaukee suburbs. Just about 5 miles away from Milwaukee, you won’t miss out on what the city has to offer. Living in St. Francis, you can enjoy outdoor activities at Bay View Park, which features walking trails and scenic views of Lake Michigan.
#2: Brown Deer
Median home price: $235,000
Average sale price per square foot: $145
Distance from Milwaukee: 12 miles
Brown Deer, WI homes for sale
Brown Deer, WI apartments for rent
About 12 miles away from downtown Milwaukee is Brown Deer, our second suburb. Living in Brown Deer, you’ll want to play a round of golf at the renowned Brown Deer Park Golf Course, a public course that has hosted professional tournaments, and visit Brown Deer Village Park, a local park with walking trails, sports facilities, and green spaces for recreational activities. When living in this suburb of 12,500 people, you can also spend time exploring the charming downtown.
#3: Cudahy
Median home price: $242,500
Average sale price per square foot: $153
Average rent for an apartment: $1,097
Distance from Milwaukee: 7 miles
Cudahy, WI homes for sale
Cudahy, WI apartments for rent
Drive just 7 miles outside of Milwaukee and you’ll reach Cudahy, another great suburb. Even with a population of about 18,200, there are plenty of unique spots to visit in Cudahy. If you find yourself moving to our third suburb, be sure to explore Sheridan Park, which features a beach along Lake Michigan, walking paths, and scenic views of the lake.
#4: West Allis
Median home price: $230,000
Average sale price per square foot: $167
Average rent for an apartment: $1,064
Distance from Milwaukee: 7 miles
West Allis, WI homes for sale
West Allis, WI apartments for rent
The next suburb on our list is West Allis. About 60,300 people live in this Milwaukee suburb, where you can check out the West Allis Farmers Market for fresh produce and local goods, explore the Wisconsin State Fair Park, a venue that hosts the annual Wisconsin State Fair and various events throughout the year, and enjoy nature at Greenfield Park, which includes a lagoon, walking trails, and recreational facilities for outdoor activities.
#5: Glendale
Median home price: $265,000
Average sale price per square foot: $161
Distance from Milwaukee: 9 miles
Glendale, WI homes for sale
Glendale, WI apartments for rent
Drive 9 miles outside of Milwaukee and you’ll find the suburb of Glendale, another great area to add to your list. With 13,400 residents, moving to this suburb can keep you close enough to Milwaukee, without living there. In Glendale, you can visit one of the many parks like Richard E. Maslowski Community Park, Kletzch Park, and Lincoln Park, or take a scenic drive or walk along the Milwaukee River Parkway, which offers picturesque views of the river and green spaces.
#6: Greenfield
Median home price: $289,900
Average sale price per square foot: $184
Distance from Milwaukee: 11 miles
Greenfield, WI homes for sale
Greenfield, WI apartments for rent
Another noteworthy Milwaukee suburb is Greenfield which is home to about 37,800 residents. There’s lots of activities to do in this suburb. For example, you can check out one of Greenfield’s parks like Konkel Park, Zablocki Park, and Kulwicki Park, or check out the local shops and restaurants in town.
#7: South Milwaukee
Median home price: $250,000
Average sale price per square foot: $165
Average rent for an apartment: $1,240
Distance from Milwaukee: 11 miles
South Milwaukee, WI homes for sale
South Milwaukee, WI apartments for rent
Number seven on our list of Milwaukee suburbs is South Milwaukee, which is almost 11 miles into downtown. With a population of roughly 20,800, South Milwaukee is a great area to live in that’s not nearly as big as Milwaukee. Don’t miss out on exploring Grant Park, which offers hiking trails, a golf course, a beach along Lake Michigan, and the Seven Bridges hiking trail, or you can check out Oak Creek Parkway, which features green spaces, walking paths, and recreational areas.
#8: Hales Corners
Median home price: $314,900
Average sale price per square foot: $209
Distance from Milwaukee: 14 miles
Hales Corners, WI homes for sale
Hales Corners, WI apartments for rent
If you’ve lived in the Milwaukee area for a while, you may know our eighth suburb – Hales Corners. This suburb is home to roughly 7,700 residents, so you’ll have a fraction of Milwaukee’s population while remaining only 14 miles from the city. Be sure to explore the beautiful Boerner Botanical Gardens, known for its diverse plant collections, themed gardens, and seasonal displays, or spend time outdoors at Whitnall Park, which has walking trails, picnic areas, a golf course, and scenic natural spaces.
#9: Waukesha
Median home price: $332,000
Average sale price per square foot: $195
Average rent for an apartment: $1,187
Distance from Milwaukee: 19 miles
Waukesha, WI homes for sale
Waukesha, WI apartments for rent
Moving to Waukesha will give you access to downtown Milwaukee in close to 30 minutes – as long as you don’t end up in traffic. Roughly 71,200 people live in this suburb, but you’ll find lots to do in Waukesha. Fun activities in Waukesha include checking out downtown Waukesha with its historic architecture, local shops, and restaurants, spending time at Minooka Park, which offers a beach, fishing opportunities, walking trails, and recreational facilities, or seeing a theater production at Waukesha Civic Theatre.
#10: Greendale
Median home price: $335,000
Average sale price per square foot: $189
Distance from Milwaukee: 11 miles
Greendale, WI homes for sale
Greendale, WI apartments for rent
The last suburb on our list of Milwaukee suburbs you’ll want to consider moving to is Greendale. This suburb has a population of 14,800 and you can explore Scout Lake Park which has a lake for fishing and walking trails, and the historic village center of Greendale, featuring charming shops, local boutiques, and dining options. There’s plenty to do on an afternoon or weekend while living in this awesome suburb.
Methodology: Whether a suburb was under a 20-mile drive from downtown Milwaukee. Median home sale price data and average rent price from the Redfin Data Center during December 2023. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.
This post first appeared on Redfin.com. To see the original, click here.