Garden Homes
A mix of Cape Cods, duplexes and ivy-covered cottages
Garden Homes was first envisioned in the very early 20th century as a city-funded cooperative housing project, which began construction in the early 1920s. Though it didn’t quite become a sprawling residential haven, the project resulted in a cluster of eye-catching two-story cottages, which today comprise the northern section of the neighborhood. These historic homes boast a variety of colors on their mainly wood-sided facades; others have stucco exteriors, while a few are even wrapped in ivy. Most houses outside this section are bungalows — some of brick or stone — while you’ll also find Cape Cods and duplexes in the neighborhood. Home prices average about $111,000 here, which could get you a well-kept Garden Homes cottage, while a recently updated, nearly 2,300-square-foot house could cost up to $250,000.Kids learn at Lighthouse Youth Center and play at nearby parks
The original Garden Homes section centers around Garden Homes Park. A small, relatively modern playground anchors this roughly 2-acre green space opposite some houses’ front porches. At the opposite corner of the neighborhood, you’ll find the Green Tech Station, an educational outdoor spot where visitors can learn about stormwater irrigation. The park was designed to capture 100,000-plus gallons of water on rainy days, which irrigates the 440 trees planted on site. Meanwhile, many neighborhood kids spend free time at Lighthouse Youth Center, which partners with Garden Homes Lutheran Church to provide after-school and summertime care for ages 10 to 18 at no cost. “We have free time every day — a lot of kids in this neighborhood love going and playing basketball or throwing the football outside,” says Director of Programming Abbie Helwig. “We have homework help, so we do tutoring during the school year.”Traditional, Montessori and religion-based schooling options are close
Barbee Montessori is the neighborhood’s closest public school, welcoming kindergarten through sixth grade students to experience a hands-on, creativity-focused curriculum in true Montessori style. Benjamin Franklin School offers a more traditional public education for kindergarten through eighth grade a few blocks west of the neighborhood. Garden Homes Lutheran School offers classes for this same age group and has earned four stars from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. And Rufus King International High School, among Milwaukee’s best public high schools, operates just east of Garden Homes. This school of 1,400-plus students is impossible to miss with its regal brick exterior, but it's best known for what goes on inside the building. Rufus King’s International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum attracts ambitious youths from all over the city and has helped it land a rare A rating from Niche.Decades-old, local eateries offer comfort food nearby
Another northern Milwaukee landmark, Mr. Perkins Family Restaurant, operates just a block from the southeast corner of Garden Homes. This unassuming, family-owned eatery has been a staple for many residents since it opened in 1969. When you grab a table or a bar seat for a hearty breakfast or soul food-infused lunch, odds are you’ll be sitting next to someone who’s gone to Mr. Perkins for years. Several other locally owned pit stops punctuate the blocks around Garden Homes. If you’d like to venture a little farther, downtown Milwaukee offers countless trendy spots to eat, drink or catch a show and is about 10 minutes away via Interstate 43.Errands are easy with two commercial hubs within a short drive
If you need to load up on groceries or other errands, check out two robust commercial areas within a few minutes of Garden Homes. Midtown Center sits about seven minutes west and includes a Pick n Save grocery store, a Forman Mills department store and other brand-name shops. Roughly the same distance in the other direction is the Riverworks district, where you’ll find a Walmart Supercenter, Outpost Natural Foods and more.
Written By
John Battiston
Photography Contributed By
Kyle Arn
Video By
Melinda Anselmo
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Bret Duer
Bret Duer
The Real Estate Edge, LLC
(920) 717-3678
65 Total Sales
1 in Garden Homes
$117,000 Price
-
Joseph Cardenas
Joseph Cardenas
Responds QuicklyJC Realtors
(414) 939-7912
102 Total Sales
1 in Garden Homes
$118,000 Price
-
Susan Fellows
Susan Fellows
The Real Estate Edge, LLC
(262) 361-1586
52 Total Sales
3 in Garden Homes
$75K - $140K Price Range
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Sheena Polachowski
Sheena Polachowski
Mahler Sotheby's International Realty
(262) 320-3212
16 Total Sales
1 in Garden Homes
$93,500 Price
-
LeKeisha Roberts
LeKeisha Roberts
Realty Executives Integrity~Brookfield
(414) 677-7732
50 Total Sales
1 in Garden Homes
$130,000 Price
-
Don Cornelius
DC
Don Cornelius
Responds QuicklyColdwell Banker Realty
(414) 296-9726
76 Total Sales
2 in Garden Homes
$105K - $125K Price Range
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
- 3rd to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 8th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Green Bay Playfield
Garden Homes Park
Lincoln Park
- Boating
- Disc Golf
- Golf
Atkinson Triangle
- Basketball
- Playground
- Multi-Purpose Field
Lucille Berrien Park
- Basketball
- Playground
- Multi-Purpose Field
William Gore Park
- Basketball
- Playground
- Multi-Purpose Field
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Garden Homes | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 10 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 7 | 4 |
| Robbery | 8 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Garden Homes Demographics and Home Trends
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$250,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$250,000
Last 12 months Home Sales
0
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$164
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
539
Number of Homes for Sale
1
Median Year Built
1927
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,262
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,074
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
4,791
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
2,417
Median Age
37
Population Density
11 ppl/acre
Population under 18
29.6%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.6%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$30,460
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$36,870
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
81.1%
College Graduates
4.7%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
0.1%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
62.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
32''
Average Winter Low Temperature
14°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
38''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
50
/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
62
/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
55
/ 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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Rufus King
Charming midcentury-era suburb in the heart of Milwaukee
Arlington Heights
Walkable access to local dining, greenspaces and public transportation
Borchert Field
Populous Northwest Side neighborhood with a K-8 school and direct access to I-43
Grover Heights
Small neighborhood within blocks of two riverside parks and Rufus King High School
Lincoln Creek
Tight-knit community outside Milwaukee with well-loved houses
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