The best suburb in the Milwaukee area, according to data—plus, see the rest of the top 25

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Best suburbs in Milwaukee

The GI Bill of Rights, Ike's interstate system, suburban development, and the growing affordability of cars allowed the suburbs to flourish throughout the mid-20th century. During this era, a new American Dream was established: one with single-family homes, white picket fences, and lush green lawns.

Today, however, the traditional suburb may no longer cater to what 79% of Americans want: walkability. Younger people are especially attracted to neighborhoods where stores, restaurants, and other amenities are a short walk away, according to a National Association of Realtors survey released in 2023 . But a good location comes with a cost.

A Redfin analysis showed homes in 2019 in walkable areas sold for almost 25% more than homes without the same walkability, equivalent to nearly $78,000 more in the national average. Some suburbs offer the amenities of city life, whether through easy transit to big cities (such as Wilmette, Illinois, with easy proximity to Chicago), or college-town amenities such as those found in Claremont, California.

What individual families and people look for in a suburb will vary, of course, with some prioritizing quiet and extra space, even if that means driving more often.

Stacker used data from Niche to examine the best suburbs in Milwaukee. Niche ranked suburbs across the U.S. based on several factors, including diversity, the cost of living, the share of the population with college degrees, and the quality of schools and housing.

Read on to see the highest-ranked suburbs in Milwaukee.

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#25. New Berlin, Wisconsin

- Population: 40,387
- Median home value: $320,800
- Median rental price: $1,371

- Top schools nearby: Wisconsin Hills Middle School (grade A+), Brookfield Central High School (grade A+), Mill Valley Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#24. Franklin, Wisconsin

- Population: 36,513
- Median home value: $331,200
- Median rental price: $1,262

- Top schools nearby: Pleasant View Elementary School (grade A), Robinwood Elementary School (grade A), Forest Park Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+), Wisconsin Lutheran High School (grade A)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#23. Hartland, Wisconsin

- Population: 9,599
- Median home value: $344,200
- Median rental price: $1,069

- Top schools nearby: Lake Country School District (grade A+), High School of Health Sciences (grade A+), Arrowhead High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#22. Germantown, Wisconsin

- Population: 20,885
- Median home value: $333,200
- Median rental price: $1,263

- Top schools nearby: Silver Spring Intermediate School (grade A), Germantown High School (grade A−), County Line Elementary School (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#21. Delafield, Wisconsin

- Population: 7,181
- Median home value: $458,300
- Median rental price: $1,370

- Top schools nearby: Lake Country School District (grade A+), High School of Health Sciences (grade A+), Arrowhead High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#20. Merton, Wisconsin

- Population: 3,463
- Median home value: $481,300
- Median rental price: $1,050

- Top schools nearby: High School of Health Sciences (grade A+), Arrowhead High School (grade A), Silver Spring Intermediate School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#19. Lannon, Wisconsin

- Population: 1,351
- Median home value: $213,300
- Median rental price: $576

- Top schools nearby: Silver Spring Intermediate School (grade A), Templeton Middle School (grade A), Hamilton High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), Divine Savior Holy Angels High School (grade A), Wisconsin Lutheran High School (grade A)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: A−
--- Outdoor activities grade: B+

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#18. Pewaukee City, Wisconsin

- Population: 15,817
- Median home value: $393,100
- Median rental price: $1,490

- Top schools nearby: Wisconsin Hills Middle School (grade A+), High School of Health Sciences (grade A+), Pewaukee High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#17. Sussex, Wisconsin

- Population: 11,549
- Median home value: $360,100
- Median rental price: $1,222

- Top schools nearby: Marcy Elementary School (grade A), Arrowhead High School (grade A), Silver Spring Intermediate School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: B+

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#16. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

- Population: 38,610
- Median home value: $312,400
- Median rental price: $1,217

- Top schools nearby: Marcy Elementary School (grade A), Silver Spring Intermediate School (grade A), Templeton Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#15. Greendale, Wisconsin

- Population: 14,722
- Median home value: $273,400
- Median rental price: $1,152

- Top schools nearby: College Park Elementary School (grade A), Greendale High School (grade A), Downtown Montessori Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+), Divine Savior Holy Angels High School (grade A)

- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#14. Cedarburg, Wisconsin

- Population: 12,213
- Median home value: $372,500
- Median rental price: $1,018

- Top schools nearby: Parkview Elementary School (grade A+), Westlawn Elementary School (grade A+), Cedarburg High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+), Dominican High School (grade A)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: B+

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#13. Wind Point, Wisconsin

- Population: 1,688
- Median home value: $272,800
- Median rental price: $2,156

- Top schools nearby: Walden III High School (grade B+), The Real School (grade B), Jefferson Lighthouse Elementary School (grade B−)
- Top private schools nearby: The Prairie School (grade A+), Racine Lutheran High School (grade A−), St. Catherine's High School (grade B)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: A−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#12. Nashotah, Wisconsin

- Population: 1,216
- Median home value: $405,700
- Median rental price: $1,146

- Top schools nearby: Lake Country School District (grade A+), High School of Health Sciences (grade A+), Arrowhead High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#11. Glendale, Wisconsin

- Population: 13,227
- Median home value: $248,000
- Median rental price: $1,217

- Top schools nearby: Maple Dale Elementary School (grade A+), Indian Hill Elementary School (grade A+), Nicolet Union High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#10. Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

- Population: 47,919
- Median home value: $291,600
- Median rental price: $1,312

- Top schools nearby: Silver Spring Intermediate School (grade A), East High School (grade A), Roosevelt Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#9. Thiensville, Wisconsin

- Population: 3,279
- Median home value: $321,400
- Median rental price: $1,179

- Top schools nearby: Lake Shore Middle School (grade A+), Steffen Middle School (grade A+), Homestead High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+), Dominican High School (grade A)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B
--- Outdoor activities grade: B+

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#8. River Hills, Wisconsin

- Population: 1,530
- Median home value: $677,300
- Median rental price: $2,250

- Top schools nearby: Maple Dale Elementary School (grade A+), Indian Hill Elementary School (grade A+), Nicolet Union High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#7. Fox Point, Wisconsin

- Population: 6,811
- Median home value: $382,500
- Median rental price: $1,622

- Top schools nearby: Maple Dale Elementary School (grade A+), Nicolet Union High School (grade A), Bayside Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#6. Bayside, Wisconsin

- Population: 4,506
- Median home value: $407,100
- Median rental price: $1,433

- Top schools nearby: Lake Shore Middle School (grade A+), Donges Bay Elementary School (grade A+), Homestead High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#5. Shorewood, Wisconsin

- Population: 13,707
- Median home value: $391,200
- Median rental price: $1,214

- Top schools nearby: Shorewood High School (grade A+), Lake Bluff Elementary School (grade A), Atwater Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#4. Mequon, Wisconsin

- Population: 25,102
- Median home value: $463,800
- Median rental price: $2,254

- Top schools nearby: Lake Shore Middle School (grade A+), Donges Bay Elementary School (grade A+), Steffen Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#3. Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin

- Population: 14,804
- Median home value: $466,900
- Median rental price: $1,262

- Top schools nearby: Whitefish Bay High School (grade A+), Whitefish Bay Middle School (grade A+), Richards Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: University School of Milwaukee (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+), Eastbrook Academy (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

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#2. Brookfield, Wisconsin

- Population: 41,342
- Median home value: $388,600
- Median rental price: $1,699

- Top schools nearby: Brookfield East High School (grade A+), Wisconsin Hills Middle School (grade A+), Brookfield Central High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), University Lake School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#1. Elm Grove, Wisconsin

- Population: 6,445
- Median home value: $433,300
- Median rental price: $1,424

- Top schools nearby: Brookfield East High School (grade A+), Wisconsin Hills Middle School (grade A+), Brookfield Central High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Brookfield Academy (grade A+), St. John's Northwestern Academies (grade A+), Marquette University High School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: C+
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A−

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 67 metros.