Whether you are planning to come back or you’ve been thinking of establishing a home in Wisconsin for the first time, there’s a lot to like about the state.
You will probably be impressed, or even surprised, that the favorite beverage here is milk.
So, What Are the Pros and Cons of Relocating to Wisconsin?
Firstly, the cost of housing is low enough to afford you a decent home. There are plenty and fine education institutions from primary to tertiary level. The taxes are high though. Nonetheless, you will always find something to do here regardless of the season.
Pros Of Living In Wisconsin
Here’s why you should consider moving to Wisconsin:
1. Plenty Of Cheese
Wisconsin produces about 3 million lbs. of cheese every year – not just one type but 600 different varieties of it.
Going by these figures, the state accounts for about 1/4 of America’s cheese output. Staggering, right?
If you love dairy products and would like to be closer to America’s finest cheese (literally), relocate to Wisconsin.
2. Lots Of Fun Activities For All Ages
There’s very little you can’t do here.
Whether you are into hiking or love to travel around and visit various attractions, you will always find something to do regardless of the season.
Here are some of the things you could do in the state:
Summerfest
It has been dubbed “The Planet’s Largest Music Festival,” rightfully so as you will realize when you take part in it.
Summerfest has been around for a long time: 50 years and still running.
It is held in Milwaukee annually.
If you ever find time for it, you will get to mingle with over 900,000 music aficionados and revelers for 11 days. Over 800 acts get to share a stage.
You need to relocate with a fat wallet.
The Home on the Rock
When Alex Jordan built this inn/resort back in the 1940s, he probably didn’t see it surviving for this long to showcase his bizarre crafts to the future.
It is located in Spring Green, about 118 miles west of Milwaukee.
Besides its enormous size and aesthetically pleasing architecture, the interior holds the world’s biggest indoor carousel.
Perhaps the most popular part of the home is the ‘Infinity Room,’ – a 218 ft. structure suspended on the mountainside with no support beneath it.
This House attracts hordes of visitors than anything else in the state
Ice Age National Scenic Trails
Please imagine a hiking trail that traces the whole edge of an enormous glacier!
That’s how outstanding the Ice Age National Trail is among the nation’s known trails.
Lots of potholes and rock formations line the whole length of this unforgettable attraction.
It is actually 1,200 miles and passes through dozens of state parks, forests, and local parks as well wildlife areas.
Shorewood Ghost Train
Long before it became Oak Leaf Trail (as it’s referred to today), the route served as a railway line and linked Chicago to St. Paul Minnesota.
The historical train last snaked its way out of here in 1963.
Today, an unforgettable “artistic sensory experience” is performed to simulate the feel and sound of the train complete with the appearance of the train itself.
Two times a night now, those who come here can experience the sound of the train rumbling across the bridge as it did over fifty years ago, vibrating the ground to the awe of onlookers.
Wisconsin Dells
If you are coming from the landlocked midwest, Wisconsin Dells gives you a good reason to settle in the state.
Billed as the “World’s Waterpark Capital,” this area consists of acres and acres of resorts, golfing grounds, and waterparks.
3. Housing Costs Are Below The National Level
Low cost of housing is one of the top indicators of the affordable cost of living for a region.
You want to relocate to a locality you can afford. If you are planning to settle in Wisconsin, here is good news: the housing cost in the state is very much affordable as it’s about 15% below the country’s average.
Bestplaces.net quotes Wisconsin rents as between $200 and $500.
This is dirt-cheap compared to what you’d pay in most states, especially those on the west and east coast. Housing costs drop considerably in the north and central towns of the state.
Housing in places like Appleton and Green Bay is 20% below the country’s average.
4. The Climate Doesn’t Suck (Too Much)
The summers are beautiful most of the time although there will be instances of muggy weather.
Average high temperatures normally peak in July at around 80 Fahrenheit degrees, but highs of 90 degrees are well within reach. June is the wettest month, with rainfall averaging 3.5 inches.
5. Winters aren’t all that bad either
The average winter temperature is 18 Fahrenheit degrees.
Weather forecasts frequently feature negative numbers.
Schools close when the temperature hits minus 10 or lower.
The winds, however, bite harder than the cold itself. Snowfall varies with the year but rarely surpasses 40 inches.
If you are coming from the north, like Michigan or Washington, you have very little to fear.
Regardless of the season, there’s always something for everyone, especially in the summer when there are plenty of festivals and state fairs.
6. Great education system
Are you coming with children? You will be glad to learn that the Milwaukee Public Schools district alone offers 159 schools to choose from, all of which serve about 74,600 students.
Private schools offer an alternative to the state level or public school. The Milwaukee area has about 100 of them.
7. There are numerous postsecondary schools as well
The most notable higher education institution here is the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, which enrolls about 24,000 students every year.
If you prefer private universities, you can count on Marquette University which is a Jesuit Catholic higher education institute with over 12,000 students.
Whether you are looking for a place to pursue part-time, evening classes, or full-time learning, Milwaukee Area Technical College is one of the closest institutions you could attend if you settle in Milwaukee.
Cons Of Relocating To Wisconsin
Wisconsin sucks sometimes, here are the reasons:
1. High Taxes
We started by highlighting how Wisconsin is among the cheapest places to buy a home.
When it comes to taxes, however, the residents here are taxed to the bone (literally).
According to WalletHub’s Tax Rates by State ranking released in 2019, Wisconsin came #45 – dreadful.
2. Gerrymandering And Voter Suppression
The two most often discussed issues sweeping an increasing number of southern states are voter suppression and gerrymandering. Wisconsin is one of those states.
Like Georgia, Wisconsin is starting to adopt extreme laws that many have interpreted as an attempt to mute the voice of minorities and liberals.
Since the state’s government is dominated by right-wing leaning politicians, the supreme court has leaned right as well.
Schools continue to be compelled to take budget cuts, gerrymandering is rife, roads aren’t in great condition, and the rich continue to receive huge tax breaks.
3. Pesky Bugs And Moo Smell
We began by mentioning how outstanding the Cheese from the state is.
Of course, being a leader in dairy production means the state keeps more cows than most other states.
The cousins of buffalos are all fun and adorable only when you are receiving milk and cheese from them.
As a result of the high population of cows, the state is rife with beetles and gnats and other tribes of pests that love to hang near cattle.
The moo smell – a product of the manure produced by the cows – in rural areas will make your trip unforgettable.
Conclusion
So what are the pros and cons of relocating to Wisconsin?
The cost of housing is low enough to afford you a decent home without breaking a bank.
The taxes are high though.
Nonetheless, you will always find something to do here during any season.
References
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living In Wisconsin?
10 Reasons to Move to Wisconsin
25 Pros and Cons Living in Wisconsin
Related
United States Relocations
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