Key Takeaways
- Milwaukee Worldwide Airport connects to 30+ nonstop locations by way of 9 main airways, with downtown simply quarter-hour away.
- Housing prices common $1,156 month-to-month—45% beneath the nationwide common of $2,120—liberating up vital funds for journey.
- Milwaukee County options 35 hospitals, 1,400 well being care institutions, and ranks #26 nationally for well being care high quality in response to U.S. Information & World Report.
- Town gives 15,000 acres of parkland, 135+ miles of trails, and 300+ arts venues, together with 28 museums, and hosts 100+ annual festivals.
Should you’re seeking to journey extra throughout your retirement, discovering the best house base makes all of the distinction. Milwaukee, Wisconsin—typically overshadowed by its flashier Midwestern neighbor, Chicago—is a retirement vacation spot price contemplating for frequent vacationers. This charming metropolis on Lake Michigan gives wonderful journey connectivity, an inexpensive value of dwelling, and dozens of facilities that make it an ideal house base for adventurous retirees.
Journey Accessibility
On the coronary heart of Milwaukee’s journey choices is Milwaukee Mitchell Worldwide Airport (MKE), a mid-sized airport that’s as well-connected as it’s handy.
Airport Capabilities
Milwaukee Worldwide Airport (MKE) serves greater than 30 nonstop locations throughout america, Mexico, and Canada. The airport is house to 9 main airways, together with American, Delta, Southwest, United, Frontier, Spirit, and Solar Nation, providing you with aggressive pricing choices and loads of routes.
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What units Milwaukee’s airport aside is its ease of use. At a mid-sized airport like MKE, you’ll take pleasure in shorter safety strains and simple parking in comparison with bigger hubs like Chicago’s O’Hare. Situated simply eight miles south of downtown, it’s a fast 15-minute drive for Milwaukee residents.
Native Transit Choices
One main perk of selecting Milwaukee as your retirement vacation spot is that this compact metropolis is extremely walkable. A stroll alongside the Milwaukee RiverWalk will take you on a three-mile path by downtown to the neighborhoods of Beerline B, Outdated World Third Road Leisure District, ending within the Historic Third Ward.
Should you desire to take public transit, the town of Milwaukee gives a number of bus strains, together with the brand new Join 1 Bus Fast Transit Line (BRT) that may take you thru your complete county. Take the two-mile streetcar, referred to as The Hop, which cruises by Milwaukee’s hottest neighborhoods completely without spending a dime!
Biking has additionally grow to be a simple and accessible choice in recent times with the introduction of Milwaukee’s bike share program, Bublr Bikes, which has stations situated all through downtown and Wauwatosa.
A number of Transit Choices
Past air journey, Milwaukee gives a number of different transportation choices:
- Amtrak service: The Hiawatha practice connects Milwaukee to Chicago with seven each day spherical journeys, making O’Hare simply accessible for worldwide flights. The Empire Builder line takes you west by the Dakotas and Montana, all the best way to Seattle.
- Lake Michigan ferry: From Might to October, the Lake Specific Excessive-Velocity Ferry connects Milwaukee to Muskegon, Michigan, providing a singular technique to discover Michigan whereas bypassing Chicago visitors.
- Freeway entry: Milwaukee sits on the intersection of three main interstates (I-94, I-43, and I-41), offering wonderful highway journey choices all through the Midwest.
- Cruise port: The Port of Milwaukee welcomes Nice Lakes cruise ships in the course of the summer season months, providing one other enjoyable and distinctive journey choice.
Price of Residing and Affordability
One compelling purpose to decide on Milwaukee for retirement is its affordability, which implies much more funds to help your touring.
Housing
Milwaukee County gives remarkably inexpensive housing in comparison with the nationwide common. The median month-to-month housing value in Milwaukee is $1,156, in comparison with the nationwide common of $2,120. This affordability means retirees can doubtlessly downsize from higher-cost areas and pocket the distinction for journey funds.
Transportation and Meals
Every day dwelling bills, like transportation and meals, stay affordable. Residents pay roughly $653 month-to-month for meals and $1,083 for transportation. For these utilizing public transit, Milwaukee’s system (MCTS) gives diminished fares for seniors.
Well being Care
Based on the U.S. Information and World Report, Wisconsin ranks No. 26 among the many prime 100 cities for well being care. Constancy estimates {that a} 65-year-old who retired in 2024 will want roughly $165,000 to cowl post-tax well being care prices—with the common 65-year-old couple spending round $12,800 of their first 12 months of retirement. So, you’ll be blissful to reap the benefits of Milwaukee’s wonderful well being care techniques.
Life-style Concerns for Retirees
Between travels, Milwaukee gives a powerful quantity of actions and facilities to boost your retirement.
Cultural Sights
With over 300 arts and leisure institutions in Milwaukee County alone, you’ll by no means lack for cultural experiences. Town is house to twenty-eight museums, together with the Milwaukee Artwork Museum with its well-known Burke Brise Soleil wings. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Ballet, and several other theater corporations give you world-class leisure.
Generally known as the “Metropolis of Festivals,” Milwaukee hosts over 100 festivals a 12 months, starting from the Meals Truck Fest to the Bizarre Fest, which means you’ll by no means should spend a weekend bored at house.
Out of doors Recreation
Milwaukee appeals to each metropolis dwellers and out of doors fanatics. With direct entry to Lake Michigan, the town boasts 1,400 acres of seashore and lakefront parks, 15,000 acres of parkland, and greater than 135 miles of trails all through the county. Within the winter, you possibly can take pleasure in cross-country snowboarding, ice skating, and snowshoeing.
Different Issues To Contemplate
There are just a few essential way of life components price contemplating earlier than deciding to make Milwaukee your everlasting residence throughout retirement.
Local weather
Milwaukee experiences all 4 seasons, which brings each benefits and challenges. Winters may be excessive with over 48 inches of snow yearly, whereas summers common a nice 80°F. The autumn and spring supply gentle and exquisite situations.
Neighborhood
About 15% of Milwaukee residents are over the age of 65, with a number of grownup and retirement communities all through the metro space. Town options robust neighborhood associations and neighborhood facilities that foster social connections.
Well being Care High quality
Milwaukee gives wonderful well being care with Froedtert Hospital ranked No. 1 within the Milwaukee metro and No. 2 throughout Wisconsin by the U.S. Information & World Report. The county has 35 hospitals and over 1,400 well being care institutions. Residents even have fast entry to Chicago’s medical techniques.
Tax Concerns
Wisconsin exempts Social Safety tax advantages and gives property tax reduction packages by a homestead credit score for seniors. Revenue taxes vary from 3.50% to 7.65%, larger than another in style retirement locations, however there’s no property or inheritance tax on the state stage. Residents pay roughly $615 a month in county taxes.
The Backside Line
Milwaukee gives travel-loving retirees a really perfect mixture of connectivity, affordability, and high quality of life. Town’s wonderful airport and freeway community make frequent journey handy, whereas its affordable value of dwelling means much more funds for adventures.
Between journeys, you’ll take pleasure in vibrant cultural experiences and exquisite out of doors areas alongside Lake Michigan, all with out the congestion and excessive prices of different metropolitan areas.
Earlier than making the transfer, think about visiting Milwaukee throughout completely different seasons to expertise its local weather extremes. Keep in mind that retirement relocation goes past the numbers; Milwaukee’s Midwestern friendliness, sense of neighborhood, and journey accessibility make it a superb retirement vacation spot.
