It's time to move! No matter how exciting the new home, job, and community there are inherent stresses involved. Follow the following tips to help make the experience a pleasure.

1. Choose your new home and community wisely. Know your needs and likes and choose the right neighborhood for you. The links below will lead you to businesses, schools, churches, restaurants and more in each of the Milwaukee area communities. Take your time looking online and then visit the areas of interest to you. Your Realtor will help you find a location that meets your professional and personal preferences.

2. Get organized. Make a moving calendar and place important dates on it first. Allow a couple weeks to get pre-approved for a home mortgage, one to five weeks to find the right home, and up to 30 days to close on the home. Critical dates may include the first day on the job, first day of school, or even a holiday. Then backwards plan the other large and smaller events that will lead up to these days such as registering for school and calling movers.

3. Get more organized. Make a list of things to do and then use that list to make a prioritized list of things to do. This will help you remember what to expect and stay calm as little things creep onto your calendar. Remember the small things like updating your mailing address with banks and creditors, keeping a small set of tools (hammer, screwdrivers, vice grip, duck tape) handy, having a local area map in your car, and calling your mother.

Getting to know Milwaukee and Surrounding Communities

If you are considering moving to Milwaukee, it’s time to get to know more about the city. Continue reading to learn more about all the different communities in the city of Milwaukee and what they have to offer:

Brookfield

One of the quickest-growing residential areas in Milwaukee, Brookfield has dozens of condominium complexes and upscale homes. It is also considered a shopping and business center for the region.

Chamber of Commerce: Brookfield Chamber of Commerce

Utilities: Wisconsin Electric Power Company (electricity and natural gas), Milwaukee Water Works (water), Time Warner Cable (cable), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (sewer)

Schools: Elmbrook School District

Churches: Brookside Baptist Church, St. Dominic Catholic Church, Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, Calvary Luthern, United Methodist and more

Shorewood

Of all the suburbs located in the North Shore alongside Lake Michigan, Shorewood is the most affordable. It is located near the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is a very popular community for recent college graduates.

About Shorewood: Shorewood Schools, Shorewood Business

Utilities: Wisconsin Electric Power Company (electricity and natural gas), Milwaukee Water Works (water), Time Warner Cable (cable), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (sewer)
Schools: Shorewood School District
Churches: North Shore Presbyterian Church, Plymouth Church, Lake Park Lutheran Church, St. Robert Catholic Church

Franklin

Though a large portion of this community includes green space, Franklin is considered to be one of Milwaukee’s fastest-growing communities. A variety of new residential options are available today and a municipal building and library were recently constructed.

Chamber of Commerce: South Suburban Chamber of Commerce

Utilities: Wisconsin Electric Power Company (electricity and natural gas), Milwaukee Water Works (water), Time Warner Cable (cable), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (sewer)

Schools: Franklin School District, Oak Creek/Franklin School District, Whitnall School District

Churches: Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Faith Community Church, St. James Catholic Church

Glendale

Located alongside the Milwaukee River, Glendale includes many small manufacturers and office buildings. The community is on the rise and will soon include the Bayshore Town Center, an open-air retail mall, and a variety of new homes and businesses.

Chamber of Commerce: Glendale Chamber of Commerce

Utilities: Wisconsin Electric Power Company (electricity and natural gas), Milwaukee Water Works (water), Time Warner Cable (cable), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (sewer)

Schools: Glendale-River Hills School District

Churches: North Shore Congregational Church, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, St. John’s Lutheran Church and School

Greenfield

In the suburb of Greenfield you’ll find multiple commercial districts surrounded by parks and recreational areas. While the city was first created in the late 1800s, much of today’s infrastructure was built after World War II.

Chamber of Commerce: Greenfield Chamber of Commerce

Utilities: Wisconsin Electric Power Company (electricity and natural gas), Milwaukee Water Works (water), Time Warner Cable (cable), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (sewer)

Schools: Greenfield School District

Churches: St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, St. John the Baptist Armenian Apostolic Church

Greendale

With a variety of parks, gardens and green spaces, the community of Greendale was created more than 70 years ago by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as an experiment in urban planning. It includes lines of cinderblock homes built to give the community the feel of an old English garden town.

Chamber of Commerce: Greendale Chamber of Commerce

Utilities: Wisconsin Electric Power Company (electricity and natural gas), Milwaukee Water Works (water), Time Warner Cable (cable), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (sewer)

Schools: Greendale School District

Churches: Greendale Community Church, Saint Stephen the Martyr Evangelical Lutheran Church, Christ United Methodist Church

Menomonee Falls

Located alongside the Menomonee River, Menomonee Falls currently houses eight business parks, the large Community Memorial Hospital and many shopping centers. There are more than 2000 acres of parklands and a pristine countryside.

Chamber of Commerce: Menomonee Falls Chamber of Commerce

Utilities: Wisconsin Electric Power Company (electricity and natural gas), Milwaukee Water Works (water), Time Warner Cable (cable), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (sewer)

Schools: School District of Menomonee Falls

Churches: Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Calvary Baptist Church, St. John’s Lutheran Church

New Berlin

New Berlin is home to a large number of residential housing complexes. From beautiful homes built for families to compact developments and sprawling private properties, it has something for everyone and much of it was developed over the course of the last 40 years.

Chamber of Commerce: New Berlin Chamber of Commerce
Utilities: Wisconsin Electric Power Company (electricity and natural gas), Milwaukee Water Works (water), Time Warner Cable (cable), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (sewer)
Schools: School District of New Berlin
Churches: Our Lord’s United Methodist, Poplar Creek Church, Faith Alive Lutheran Church

Mequon – Thiensville

Located in Ozaukee County, Thiensville sits on the Milwaukee River and includes several major commercial shopping districts. The nearby community of Mequon also includes large lakeshore bluffs, upscale homes and five golf courses.

Chamber of Commerce: Mequon-Thiensville Chamber of Commerce

Utilities: Wisconsin Electric Power Company (electricity and natural gas), Milwaukee Water Works (water), Time Warner Cable (cable), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (sewer)

Schools: Mequon-Thiensville School District

Churches: St. Boniface Episcopal Church, Calvary Evangelical Lutheran, Alliance Bible Church, Lumen Christi Catholic

Wauwatosa

The Milwaukee community of Wauwatosa is considered one of the most desirable places to live because of its ideal location to the heart of the city. It is considered a white-collar community and includes upscale homes and a large number of office buildings. It also houses the local Mayfair Mall.

Chamber of Commerce: West Suburban Chamber of Commerce

Utilities: Wisconsin Electric Power Company (electricity and natural gas), Milwaukee Water Works (water), Time Warner Cable (cable), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (sewer)

Schools: Wauwatosa School District

Churches: Unity Church of Milwaukee, First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, Wauwatosa Presbyterian, Greek Orthodox , Our Redeemer Luthern Church

West Allis

As an annual host to the Wisconsin State Fair, West Allis is one of the largest cities in the state. Though it is primarily a blue-collar town by nature, many young professionals have started to relocate to this part of Milwaukee.

Chamber of Commerce: West Allis Chamber of Commerce

Utilities: Wisconsin Electric Power Company (electricity and natural gas), Milwaukee Water Works (water), Time Warner Cable (cable), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (sewer)

Schools: West Allis-West Milwaukee School District

Churches: West Allis Wesleyan Church, Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church, Zion United Church of Christ

Whitefish Bay

Whitefish Bay, located along the North Shore of Lake Michigan, is an old resort town that has retained its small town charm for many years. It includes the East Silver Spring Drive shopping district that includes many boutiques and specialty shops.

Chamber of Commerce: Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce

Utilities: Wisconsin Electric Power Company (electricity and natural gas), Milwaukee Water Works (water), Time Warner Cable (cable), Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (sewer)

Schools: Whitefish Bay Schools

Churches: Christ Church, Kingo Lutheran Church, Fox Point Lutheran Church