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Cambridge Woods

Cambridge Woods

Urban Pioneer Neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee County 53211
$368,831 Average Value
$214 Average Price per Sq Ft
3 Homes For Sale

Roaming chickens and a boat-shaped house

Despite being next to a major university and where many student renters reside, Cambridge Woods holds onto a century-old "know your neighbor" atmosphere. The Milwaukee River and its dense woods run alongside the area, hence the "Woods" half of the neighborhood name. With the river to one side and no through streets, the area has a quiet, secluded feel – much like an oasis in a bustling urban landscape. The oasis is enriched by a neighborhood association that gathers often and has a few quirks like the so-called Boat House. "It's just a small house shaped exactly like a boat, but when I was a kid, we always biked by it just to check it out," explains Desty Lorino, team lead of Desty's Team for Keller Williams, who grew up close to Cambridge Woods. "It's a fun little curiosity." The neighborhood has a youthful spirit, due partly to the many college students who live there in apartment complexes. Still, it has some old traditions and legends, like the lovingly named Tina the Chicken Lady, who lets her free-range chickens roam the streets.
MIlwaukee's famous boat house docks itself right in the Cambridge Woods neighborhood.
MIlwaukee's famous boat house docks itself right in the Cambridge Woods neighborhood.
Cambridge Woods Aerial River
Cambridge Woods Aerial River
The Rotary Centennial Arboretum Arch is quite a sight to see.
The Rotary Centennial Arboretum Arch is quite a sight to see.
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Stopping traffic for community meals

Cambridge Woods' quiet streets allow the neighborhood association to shut down the roads a few times a year so the locals can gather. "There's an all-neighborhood potluck in July, an ice cream social in September with music, and a chili fest in February," says Rebecca North, former Cambridge Woods Neighborhood Association president. "We like coming together through food." Milwaukee Februarys are a little too cold and snowy for outside festivities, so the neighborhood association rents an indoor gathering space, and neighbors place crockpots of their steaming favorite recipes along the tables. Of course, with its proximity to the center of downtown Milwaukee, there are always city-wide events, concerts and sports games to attend. Still, the intimate gatherings in Cambridge Woods provide a sense of community not often found in such large cities.
Cambridge Woods Aerial Homes
Cambridge Woods Aerial Homes
A runner makes his way through the Cambridge Woods neighborhood.
A runner makes his way through the Cambridge Woods neighborhood.
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Populations change in century-old homes

Most of the homes in Cambridge Woods, like bungalows and simple workers' cottages from the 1910s, have remained unchanged since the neighborhood's inception. The population, however, has undergone a few changes. "Cambridge Woods was super stable for a while. Back when city employees were required to live in the city, the area was filled with teachers, police officers and firefighters," Lorino says. "When Milwaukee lifted the restrictions, the neighborhood's dynamic changed, and many state employees moved out." The founding of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 1956 also brought changes, like an increase in apartment complexes and landlord-owned properties. Single-family homes sell between $260,000 and $490,000, while multi-family houses of similar design are slightly more expensive at $300,000 to $530,000. Despite being valued at $60,000 more than the Milwaukee Metro average, Cambridge Woods homes sell after only two weeks on the market. Slender lots lead to alleyways that provide detached garages and out-of-the-way trash pickup, and the tall established trees lining the sidewalks make for a beautiful walk when the leaves start to turn. Many residents of Cambridge Woods have lived there for decades; however, "A lot of young families have been moving in just within the past few years," North says. "More kids are riding their bikes and playing in the streets."
Single family homes line the streets in Cambridge Woods.
Single family homes line the streets in Cambridge Woods.
Cambridge Woods homes come in all different shapes and sizes.
Cambridge Woods homes come in all different shapes and sizes.
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National chains next to longstanding local restaurants

North Oakland Avenue borders the neighborhood on the east and is the main thoroughfare on Milwaukee's east side, with many familiar fast-casual dining options like Domino's Pizza and Noodles and Company. A few locally-owned restaurants share the strip, like the award-winning Shahrazad Restaurant. The Persian and Middle Eastern restaurant provides a no-frills atmosphere with inexpensive food like samosa, beef kababs and tahini salad. In 1960, Lisa's Pizzeria began serving piping hot pizza and pasta, with a few American favorites thrown in for good measure. Metro Market grocery store is 1 mile north of the neighborhood, and Walmart, Aldi and Outpost Natural Foods are on the other side of the Milwaukee River. Along the same stretch of Capitol Drive are department stores, fast-food restaurants and national strip mall stores.
Enjoy your subs toasted at Cheba Hut
Enjoy your subs toasted at Cheba Hut "Toasted" Subs in Cambridge Woods.
Fresh Middle Eastern cuisine at the Shawarma House in Cambridge Woods.
Fresh Middle Eastern cuisine at the Shawarma House in Cambridge Woods.
Lisa's Pizza offers carry-out, dine in, or delivery options to the residents of Cambridge Woods.
Lisa's Pizza offers carry-out, dine in, or delivery options to the residents of Cambridge Woods.
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A hidden beer garden along the river

"Every house in Cambridge Woods is within walking distance from the river, and people often go there for fishing, canoeing and kayaking," North says. The Milwaukee River Greenway is 6 miles long and runs through Cambridge Woods. "Once you're down in the valley on the water, no parts of the city are visible, so it feels like you're somewhere rural and not in a large city," North says. Those exploring the river's eastern bank can grab a drink at the Hubbard Park Beer Garden along the Oak Leaf Trail. The log cabin building serves beer and German foods from a walk-up window for patrons to enjoy on the outside picnic benches. Not accessible by car, the hidden treasure can only be reached by walking or cycling. Riverside Park is the nearest park, with athletic fields and a playground. The park also has a football field with a 400-meter track made of rubber.
Launch a canoe at Riverside Park in Cambridge Woods.
Launch a canoe at Riverside Park in Cambridge Woods.
Oak Leaf Trail Aerial
Oak Leaf Trail Aerial
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Education options for a growing of families

Children in Milwaukee can attend any school in the district through open enrollment, but two nearby choices are popular amongst the families of Cambridge Woods. Hartford Avenue Elementary School teaches prekindergarten through eighth grade on the university campus and is rated a C-minus by Niche. Riverside University High School is rated a C and has over 30 after-school clubs and activities. The school has one of the best career preparation programs in the district and offers more honors and AP classes than any other Milwaukee Public Schools high school.
Riverside University High School is central to the surrounding neighborhoods.
Riverside University High School is central to the surrounding neighborhoods.
Hartford University School is located in the middle of UWM's campus.
Hartford University School is located in the middle of UWM's campus.
Golda Meir School serves the Milwaukee area.
Golda Meir School serves the Milwaukee area.
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Biking is encouraged

Milwaukee County Transit System Green Line runs along the east boundary of the neighborhood; however, most residents rely on personal vehicles for the average 15-minute drive to and from work. "The area is also extremely bike friendly, and biking is encouraged," Lorino says. "The Oak Leaf Trail is plowed and salted in the winter for those who commute on bikes year-round." Those biking downtown have a clear path through Milwaukee's east side, going under city streets to avoid any crossing traffic. Most students and employees of the university can walk to campus in under 15 minutes. A large employer in the area, Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital, is 2 miles away. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is 13 miles south.
Looking south at downtown for Cambridge Woods.
Looking south at downtown for Cambridge Woods.
Cambridge Woods Aerial 1
Cambridge Woods Aerial 1
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Heather Haggerty
Written By
Heather Haggerty
Richard Ebbers
Photography Contributed By
Richard Ebbers
Nathan Allen
Video By
Nathan Allen

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to William Lauer, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

General Mitchell International

23 min drive

Bus

Oakland & Locust

Bus

Oakland & Kenwood

Bus

Oakland & Hartford

Bus

Locust & Newhall

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Cambridge Woods US
Homicide 4 4
Sexual Assault 6 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 6 4
Burglary 5 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 4 4
Larceny 5 4
Crime Score 5 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Cambridge Woods Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$332,450
Median Sale Price
$335,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$330,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$338,950
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$282,400
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
21
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-2%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$214

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
442
Number of Homes for Sale
3
Median Year Built
1912
Months of Supply
1.70
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,556
Below the national average
1,927
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,156
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,142
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
3,484

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to William Lauer, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
2,588
Median Age
27
Population Density
24 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.1%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
7.2%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$43,859
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$59,384

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
97.7%
College Graduates
58.4%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
23.7%
% Population in Labor Force
78.5%
Above the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
35''
Average Winter Low Temperature
17°F
Average Summer High Temperature
82°F
Annual Snowfall
33''

Area Factors

Very Bikeable

Bike Score®

89 / 100

Very Walkable

Walk Score®

80 / 100

Good Transit

Transit Score®

59 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

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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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Cambridge Woods