Drawing its name from the languages of the Indigenous American tribes that first named the area – the Potawatomi named it Kenozia, the “place of the pike,” referring to the trout that spawned there – Kenosha is a satellite city 60 miles north of downtown Chicago and 40 miles from Milwaukee. However, it’s not just a city that grew in the shadow of these major metropolitan areas. “It’s the state’s fourth largest city and has a flourishing downtown district that’s a mix of both modern convenience and historic charm,” says Meridith Jumisko, the public relations director with Visit Kenosha.
Kenosha’s location along the rail lines connecting Chicago, Green Bay and Milwaukee made it a good spot for manufacturing in the mid-1800s. At that time, employment opportunities in the area’s factories drew Polish, Irish, Italian, German and Danish immigrants to the city. Cradled between the western shores of Lake Michigan and the rural Wisconsin countryside, it offered a mix of city, rural and lakefront life. It also benefitted greatly from the development of the automobile, says Chris Allen, executive director of the Kenosha County Historical Society. “In 1902, Thomas Jeffrey produced the first mass-produced car in Kenosha, the Rambler; it was the second mass-produced car in the whole country.” From there, Kenosha quickly became a center for automobile production and was home to companies including Rambler, Nash, Hudson and American Motors Corporation (AMC). Allen also notes that, at its peak, AMC employed roughly a sixth of Kenosha's population.
While Kenosha no longer builds automobiles, it’s home to plenty of modern business, with the headquarters of both Jockey and Snap-On within city limits and Uline outside of it. Food processing is also still a major industry here, with Fair Oaks Farms, Good Foods Group and Kenosha Beef maintaining some of the top labor forces in the area. In addition, the ability to take the Metra to work in Chicago has helped Kenosha to hover at a population of around 100,000 residents for the last decade.
The iconic, red lighthouse will always light your way home in Kenosha.
Kenosha is a satellite city 60 miles north of downtown Chicago and 40 miles from Milwaukee.
Uline Corporate Headquarters is located just outside of Kenosha in Pleasant Prairie.
Forest Park locals can take a Streetcar in Downtown Kenosha as one form of public transportation
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Quaint bungalows to modern craftsman-style builds
Split-levels, ranch-style homes, workers' cottages and Colonial Revivals make up a large portion of the architectural scene here, and are examples of popular designs implemented during Kenosha's population spikes in the early 1900s and again in the 1950s and '60s. Older, more established homes – some dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries – are found in the downtown area, where quaint two-bedroom bungalows with 750 square feet can be found for less than $200,000. While Kenosha's median sales price has held steady around $250,000, homebuyers can expect to pay anywhere from $150,000 to $550,000. The higher end of this range represents the cost of properties in the area's newest housing developments found on the north side of town and in the village of Sommers. Here, modern Craftsman and farmhouse builds often feature three or four bedrooms, over 4,000-square-feet of living space and half-acre lots. Homes in Kenosha generally sell within three weeks of hitting the market – which is less than the national average of 44 days, so potential buyers should be prepared to move quickly. Major development projects are in the works for downtown Kenosha, with plans to add 1,000 condo and apartment units to the district in the coming years.
Modern and traditional builds sit beneath old trees in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Kenosha neighborhoods include a variety of home styles including Ranch.
The occasional custom builds in Kenosha range from 800,000 to 850,000 dollars.
The community of Hillcrest is a classic Wisconsin suburb located on the outskirts of Kenosha.
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Lakeside recreation
The Lake Michigan shoreline alternates between rocky embankments and sandy beaches as it stretches along Kenosha’s eastern border. The Pike Bike Trail connects the parks that dot the shoreline, from Southport Park north to Pennoyer Park and beyond. Between the two, anglers and water lovers alike can be seen enjoying the lake in the warmer months, with sailboats dotting the horizon. The city has two public marinas, protected by breakers, which feature docks and public boat ramps.
Sports fields and courts are within walking distance of many of the city’s neighborhoods, and expansive nature preserves are just a short drive away. This includes Lake Andrea, its Aqua Arena and the Pleasant Prairie RecPlex – which is home to both an ice arena and Olympic-sized competition pool, and is the largest municipal rec facility in the nation, spanning over 300,000 square feet. Jerome Creek Nature Preserve and Spring Bluff Forest Preserve are also nearby for outdoor exploration. A half-dozen golf courses, including Parkside Cross Country Course, are just outside city limits.
Simmons Island Park in Kenosha has fantastic views of Lake Michigan, appreciated by locals.
The Pleasant Praire RecPlex offers many great recreational options for Kenosha residents.
Come from Hillcrest and take a jog or walk your dog along nearby Lake Michigan on the weekend.
A mom watches her son spray water into Lake Michigan at Alford Park.
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Kenosha Unified School District
The Kenosha Unified School District serves over 22,000 students who attend Kenosha’s public schools. The district has three high schools, five middle schools and 21 elementary schools, and earns an overall B grade from Niche. This includes an A-minus rating for its college preparatory initiatives. According to Niche, Lakeview Technology Academy is the best public high school in Kenosha County and is ranked with an A grade. The school also offers a STEM-based choice program with three pathways including biomedical sciences, pre-engineering and information technology and computer science.
Private schools within Kenosha include All Saints Catholic School, Bethany Lutheran School and Kriedens Evangelical Lutheran School for kindergarten through eighth grade; Shoreland Lutheran High School for grades nine through 12; and St. Joseph Catholic Academy for prekindergarten through grade 12. Higher education options include the private Carthage College, University of Wisconsin – Parkside, and Gateway Technical College.
Crime rates, civil unrest and climate
According to the data reported to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program by the Kenosha Police Department, violent crime in Kenosha dropped from 2022 to 2023 from 397 incidents reported in 2022 to 383 in 2023. Property crime also decreased slightly, from 1,835 incidents in 2022 to 1,802 in 2023. The community experienced civil unrest in recent years after the police shooting of Jacob Blake and the shooting of two men during protests and riots against police brutality in the city in 2020.
On Lake Michigan's edge, Kenosha sees a mix of weather. It gets all four seasons – summers can have weeks that hover above 90 degrees, while temperatures from December through February often drop below freezing. It’s protected from the snowfalls of northern Wisconsin – NOAA notes that Kenosha averages between 30 and 40 inches of snow annually, whereas upstate locations regularly top 50 inches. Wisconsin averages 26 tornadoes a year, with one or two sometimes touching down in the Kenosha area.
Transportation and downtown growth
Kenosha is fairly car-dependent, although the downtown area is pleasantly walkable. The Kenosha Area Transit system has five bus routes that can take locals around town, all accessible from downtown. However, stops are sparse, and many neighborhoods are not served. The Chicago Metra Commuter Rail’s Union Pacific North line has its last stop in Kenosha, and travelers can take the 90-minute to downtown Chicago. Commuters driving to Milwaukee or Chicago can use Interstate 94, which is 8 miles west of downtown Kenosha. Kenosha Regional Airport is a public-use airport with no commercial passenger services. Instead, residents will have to drive to Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport, 33 miles north – usually a drive of 30 to 45 minutes.
Pub bites and breweries
Shopping and dining are concentrated in two areas in Kenosha: across Downtown Kenosha and along Seventh Avenue overlooking the Simmons Island Marina. Here locals can be found grabbing a drink or a bite to eat while watching the evening’s game at Captain Mike’s or Slip 56. Some restaurants, like Boat House Pub and Eatery and Marina Garden, offer patio dining and harbor views. The downtown area is also home to numerous breweries and bars, including the Rustic Road Brewing Company, Public Craft Brewing Co. and the Kenosha Tap House.
Several Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants line 52nd Avenue and west to Green Bay Road, there is a shopping corridor that runs from 38th south to 75th and includes dozens of national chain restaurants. There are also big box stores, national retailers, and grocery stores. With 18 grocery store options found within the city’s 27 square miles, Kenoshans are never far from food.
Locals can grab a bite to eat in Kenosha while watching the evening’s game at Captain Mike's.
The HOBNOB supper club in Kenosha offers dining with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan.
Downtown Kenosha supports local businesses, such as bookstore Studio Moonfall.
The Green Bay Shopping Corridor in Kenosha features many big box retailers and restaurants.
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Year-round activities across the city
Kenosha offers unique opportunities that residents enjoy throughout the year. The Kenosha HarborMarket brings local vendors out with fruits and vegetables, artisanal baked goods, honey, prepared foods, arts and crafts and more. Unlike many markets in the country's northern reaches, Kenosha’s HarborMarket is year-round, moving inside the Woman’s Club of Kenosha for the winter season. Throughout the summer, public concerts run from Tuesdays through Fridays at parks across the city, featuring family-friendly musical acts often set against the backdrop of Lake Michigan. Washington Park Velodrome – the oldest operating 333-meter track in the United States – runs races and events through the warm months as well. The annual Lightin’ Up celebration, highlighted by the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree, kicks off holiday events across the downtown area.
Kenosha locals enjoy the Kenosha HarborMarket in Downtown Kenosha on Saturdays.
Music at Twilight Concert Series brings together Kenosha residents making the best of summer.
Music, food and fun are featured during Harmony Fest at Washington Park Velodrome.
On average, homes in Kenosha, WI sell after 22 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Kenosha, WI over the last 12 months is $260,000, up 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
