Moving to Milwaukee with your family? There are plenty of fantastic family-friendly opportunities throughout Cream City for outdoor recreation, tasty food, and good education. Here are the five best neighborhoods in Milwaukee for families!
Bay View
- Home Price: $185,616 median purchase price; $992 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 63% of Milwaukee neighborhoods
Nestled on the western shores of Lake Michigan, Bay View is a charming, family-friendly Milwaukee neighborhood with the modern amenities and exciting activities of a city center. Community events like Bay View Bash, Chill on the Hill, and the South Shore Farmers’ Market offer live music, great food, and fun for the whole family—or you can have date night without the kids at First Friday Salsa Socials. This MKE neighborhood’s high walkability and bikeability also contribute to its dreamy setting, along with Victorian and Craftsman bungalows mixed with family-friendly green spaces like South Shore Park.
Things to Do in Bay View
See a new movie or an old classic inside the ornate, historic Milwaukee movie theater, Avalon Atmospheric Theater. Peruse a wide selection of records, CDs, and cassettes, or sell your old vinyl to fellow music lovers at Acme Records. Find your next read or buy a rare, first, or signed edition of your favorite book at used book store Voyageur Book Shop. Hike trails around the lagoon in the summer, sled down the hill in the winter, or participate in events like Jazz at the Vine or Shakespeare in the Park with the kids in Humboldt Park. Start the day with a breakfast or brunch in Bay View of the Berry Brie Omelette, Shrimp & Grits, or Avocado Smash Up—or grab a pound of meat to go at the Sunday Hot Meat Market at Sabrosa Cafe & Gallery. Try the Funghi, Tagliata, and Lemon Cheesecake made with local ingredients by Chef Eli at Tenuta’s Italian Restaurant. Get classic Indian dishes like Butter Chicken, Vegi Koma, and Tikka Masala at Cafe India. Or taste the famous Burek and other Serbian dishes like Sarma, Goulash, and Raznjici at the family-owned Three Brothers Restaurant—open since 1956!
Jackson Park
- Home Price: $149,242 median purchase price; $851 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 68% of Milwaukee neighborhoods
If you want a neighborhood in Milwaukee with a strong sense of community, look to Jackson Park! The Jackson Park Neighborhood Association fosters a tight-knit community through events like the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Jackson Park Farmers Market, and more. The majority of Jackson Park residents own their homes—which range from bungalows and period revivals to modern ranches. With easy access to major roads like W Forest Home Ave and S 27th St—as well as ample options for public transit from the 24, 35, 51, and 56 Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) bus routes—residents can enjoy an easy commute to other parts of Cream City. However, you won’t have to go far for a good education—great schools like Milwaukee Spanish Immersion School‘s Upper Campus and Manitoba School are located in and around this neighborhood!
Things to Do in Jackson Park
Take the kids for a swim, play a round of tennis or basketball, and go for a stroll around the pond at the neighborhood’s namesake green space, Jackson Park, which sprawls over 113 acres—or opt for the more secluded Manitoba Park, where the little ones can burn off some energy at the Tot Lot. Join the Novel Ideas Book Club or take the kids to creative events like Pollinators, Storytime, and more at the Zablocki Branch of the Milwaukee Public Library. Hop on the Oak Leaf Trail—running through the northern part of this neighborhood—to enjoy over 135 total miles of running, cycling, walking, or birding. Satisfy your craving for Strawberry Crepes, Greek Lamb Chops, or Shrimp Stir Fry during breakfast, lunch, or dinner in Milwaukee at Brass Key Restaurant & Lounge. Take home Pepperoni Pizza Bread, Homemade Lasagna, or The Olive Tree Pizza to share with the family from Di Stefano’s Pizza Palace. Enjoy traditional favorites like Roast Turkey, Old Fashioned Meatloaf, or a Chicken Strip Dinner for the kids from Zebb’s Family Restaurant, located just outside of Jackson Park. Or grab a sweet treat from just outside the neighborhood with custard flavors like Butter Pecan, Maple Walnut, and Blue Moon from the family-owned drive-in Leon’s Frozen Custard.
Riverwest
- Home Price: $174,923 median purchase price; $953 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 49% of Milwaukee neighborhoods
Riverwest is a vibrant neighborhood boasting a strong arts scene, lots of greenery, and good walkability and bikeability. Bungalows and Craftsman-style homes contribute to Riverwest’s artsy feel, along with community events like the Center Street Daze Festival and the annual Locust Street Festival. Residents can easily get to amenities like small bodegas, restaurants, and great Milwaukee schools like Riverwest Elementary School and Frederick J. Gaenslen School. Families will also have easy access to outdoor recreation at this Milwaukee neighborhood’s multiple parks, including four along the Milwaukee River—Hubbard Park, Kern Park, Pleasant Valley Park, and Gordon Park! Plus, dog lovers can enjoy walking their furry friends along tree-lined streets or letting them roam Roverwest Dog Park, one of several Milwaukee dog parks.
Things to Do in Riverwest
Explore the beauty of the Milwaukee River with a guided canoe or kayak tour from Adventure Milwaukee. Take the family bowling, join a league, or enjoy live music and dancing during special events at Falcon Bowl. Learn Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or sign the kids up for Youth Kickboxing at Red Schafer Mixed Martial Arts. Try bouldering, sign up for a variety of youth and adult climbing classes, or take a Family Yoga class at Adventure Rock Milwaukee. Find sweet and savory crepes in Milwaukee with flavors like Tiramisu, Cinnamon Toast, and Frenchie from Seven Swans Creperie. Pick up sandwiches like the Hot Italian Beef, Speck Panino, or Sassiza Originale for lunch in Milwaukee from Scardina Specialties. Feed the whole family with Zucchini Fries, Cheese Curds, and a Cheeseburger Pizza at Riverwest Pizza. Or fuel up on the Salmon Tacos, Best Burrito, Stuffed Bell Pepper, and other fresh Latin cuisine at Cafe Corazon.
Story Hill
- Home Price: $166,700 median purchase price; $770 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 75% of Milwaukee neighborhoods
Looking for a centrally-located Milwaukee neighborhood? Check out Story Hill, featuring charming Tudor-style homes, bungalows, apartments, and other housing styles and types along quiet tree-lined streets. This safe, affordable Milwaukee neighborhood offers the perfect blend of excitement and serenity for families in Milwaukee. Located a few minutes west of Downtown Milwaukee and near several major highways, residents can easily access other parts of the city. There’s also quick access to education with Woodlands School – Bluemound Campus, Story School, Hawley Environmental School, and more nearby! Plus, with the Menomonee River to the north, there are ample opportunities for families to make memories while kayaking, fishing, or hiking.
Things to Do in Story Hill
Cheer on the Milwaukee Brewers (MLB) during the baseball season at American Family Field. Take the family to play a game of basketball at Doyne Park. Spot Metz White’s Tree of Life sculpture, the native plant community garden, and more while taking a stroll through Mitchell Boulevard Park. Plan your own garden while shopping for flowers, vegetables, and more at Schuler Gardens. Celebrate weekend brunch in Milwaukee with the Crepe Monsieur, Avocado Toast, or Shakshouka from Story Hill BKC. Enjoy favorites like Fried Cheese Curds, Porcini Ravioli, and the Stephanie Burger at the long-standing neighborhood staple Saz’s State House. Dig in to Rueben Rolls, a Honey Jack Sandwich, the Crispy Chicken Wrap, and other signature items at Kelly’s Bleachers. Or savor long-time favorites like Pan Lasagna and Pasta with Garlic Butter, as well as a sweet treat like Tiramisu, from Barbiere’s Italian Inn.
Walker’s Point
- Home Price: $93,489 median purchase price; $889 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 15% of Milwaukee neighborhoods
The oldest neighborhood in the city, Walker’s Point offers incredible affordability to young families living in Milwaukee. This exciting area is architecturally marked by Italianate, Federal, and Greek Revival homes—many built with signature Cream City brick—as well as the striking Allen-Bradley Clock Tower on 2nd Street. Even more educational opportunities await at Milwaukee Public Schools in Walker’s Point, including Bradley Technology and Trade School and South Division High School—not to mention the sustainability education options on the bikeable Milwaukee Eco Tour! Families looking for other things to do can conveniently access Downtown Milwaukee, the Lake Michigan waterfront, and other local amenities via I-43, I-94, and the Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Hwy.
Things to Do in Walker’s Point
Tour the largest collection of bobbleheads in the world, including models of The Big Bang Theory cast, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Flo from Progressive at the one-of-a-kind National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. Walk through the Tropical Dome, Floral Dome, and Desert Dome—each seven stories tall and spanning an acre—at nearby Mitchell Park Domes. Compete for laughs and applause in a family-friendly comedy match, sign up for an Adult Improv Workshop, or attend an improv musical show at ComedySportz Milwaukee. Practice your swing in the batting cages or sign your kids up for hitting and pitching classes at Heavy Hitters Athletic Facility. Order Shrimp Ceviche, Bistec A La Mexicana, or Mexican Pizza at Milwaukee’s original Botanas Mexican Restaurant on 5th Street. Sample a wide variety of different food trucks like Anytime Arepa, Ruby’s Bagels, Scratch Ice Cream, and more in Zocalo Food Truck Park. Taste dumpling and noodle entrees like Katsudon, Korean Kim Chi Beef Clay Pot, and Miso Ramen at Momo Mee Asian Cuisine. Or treat yourself with something sweet like Coconut Kisses, Almond Flavored Cake, and Vanilla Flan from the Puerto Rican bakery Johanna’s Cafe.
***
Moving to Milwaukee soon? Extra Space Storage has plenty of convenient storage facilities throughout the area to help with your transition. Find a storage facility near you!
Neighborhood statistics from AreaVibes
