If you're looking for Milwaukee's active downtown area that's full of nightlife, diversity and entertainment, look no further than the Lower East Side neighborhood. Placed between Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee River to the east and west, and a college university and central business district to the north and south, the community is Milwaukee's walkable and colorful core.
According to Chris Corley, the broker and owner of Corley Real Estate and a top seller in the area, there are two main groups of people moving to the lively neighborhood. "There's that younger professional group, and then the empty nesters that are coming back to have their second life," he says. Lower East Side's location is its main attraction; "It's one of the most desirable neighborhoods. It's the heart of Milwaukee," Corley says. "Lake Michigan is right there, and it's the closest you can get to the financial district."
While the neighborhood itself is old and historic, with many buildings from 200 years ago, its locals and its nights full of noise, music and events give it youthful energy. Lower East Side has fewer retirees than in Northpoint and East Town, and fewer children than in pretty much any neighborhood west of the Milwaukee River. There's also a very high percentage of college graduates and advanced degree holders.
As you walk through the area, you'll see a mix of modern and historic apartments, condos, homes and duplexes. "The architecture in some of these old homes… It's just unbelievable. Milwaukee was quite the place back in the 1800s and is very big on preserving historic buildings," Corley says. Single-family homes, including workers' cottages and Queen Anne Victorians, range from the mid-$100,000s to the low $600,000s. Multifamily homes with similar designs fall between the high $100,000s and high $700,000s and have between two and seven units. Most properties available to buy are condos. One-bedroom units, or those in older buildings, range from the low $100,000s to the mid-$300,000s. Townhouse-style condos, units in updated historic buildings and three-bedroom penthouses in modern buildings range from the low $300,000s to $1 million. Condo HOA fees cover communal spaces and services like fitness centers, indoor pools, clubhouses and security.
If your apartment or condo building doesn't have its own garage, parking can be a headache. Still, it's entirely possible to live in the neighborhood without a car. "The walkability is great," Corley says. "There's everything there from grocery stores to 125-year-old churches to outdoor space to summer festivals." Also within walking distance is Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital, a leading employer. There are plenty of ways to get around:
The whole neighborhood is speckled with bars and restaurants, but Brady Street is the place to be for a night out. "It gets very busy, especially in the summertime," Corley says. "Bars will expand their restaurant outside to the patio or to the street or sidewalk just to take advantage of the nice weather." The strip is also diverse, with Chinese, Italian, Mediterranean, Thai, American and Argentinian options. It's also diverse in style. "You have the most divey of dive bars you've ever been to in your life there, and then next door you'll have a five-star restaurant. It's like being in a miniature version of the French Quarter," Corley says.
Living in the Lower East Side, "you're really a stone's throw in all directions to everything," Corley says. Breweries, museums, theaters, music venues and more are close to home. Just over the Milwaukee River, in Westown, are Fiserv Forum, UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and Baird Center.
There's also no shortage of outdoor space near Lake Michigan. "Those hot and humid days when it's 85, 90 degrees, you just get this nice natural air conditioner coming up off the bluffs from the lake," Corley says. Along the lake, you can:
The Martha Ford Team*
First Weber Inc - Delafield
(414) 786-8073
95 Total Sales
1 in Lower East Side
$455,000 Price
Rebecca Thomas
Keller Williams - Lake Country BT
(262) 333-0627
94 Total Sales
3 in Lower East Side
$245K - $360K Price Range
Caitlin Dennis
Shorewest Realtors, Inc.
(262) 440-9745
140 Total Sales
3 in Lower East Side
$206K - $240K Price Range
Brian Patt
Keller Williams Realty-Milwaukee North Shore
(262) 440-9116
45 Total Sales
1 in Lower East Side
$181,705 Price
May Vang
Premier Point Realty LLC
(414) 966-7920
59 Total Sales
1 in Lower East Side
$259,900 Price
Crystal Venegas
Baird & Warner
(847) 238-9329
51 Total Sales
1 in Lower East Side
$602,500 Price
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Lower East Side | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 6 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 5 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Lower East Side, Milwaukee sell after 41 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Lower East Side, Milwaukee over the last 12 months is $315,000, down 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
$1,699 - $5,665 per month
$1,305 - $5,283 per month
$1,180 - $3,083 per month
$1,695 - $2,375 per month
$1,495 - $2,595 per month
$1,445 - $2,495 per month
$725 - $950 per month
$1,575 - $3,630 per month
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A young, trendy and walkable neighborhood along the Milwaukee River
Bustling downtown with condos, nightlife and performance venues near Lake Michigan
Young professionals, students and families rent throughout the neighborhood
A distinctly suburban-style neighborhood in the center of the city
Historically African American community with a huge Juneteenth celebration
Renters, families and retirees find their place in the east side's melting pot
