By Claire Reid
August 1, 2024
The city you choose to settle in during or right after college can have important impacts on your life.
According to , 61% of college students plan on finding jobs close to their college towns after graduation. Many colleges incentivize students to stay local by tailoring programs to address regional needs and connecting students with community organizations, .
From affordable rent to educational opportunities to entertainment and recreation options, many factors influence where folks in their 20s want to live.
Forbes evaluated America’s largest cities on rent, food, entertainment, transportation and employment metrics, as well as proximity to colleges and universities, to determine its list of the in 2024. Milwaukee ranked fifth on the list for its low cost of living and unemployment rates and the numerous colleges in the region.
Here’s what makes Milwaukee a great place for young people to call home.
Milwaukee is the fifth-best city for college students and grads
Students make up nearly one-quarter of Milwaukee’s population, and there are 19 colleges within a 10-mile radius of the city, Forbes reported. Milwaukee also has one of the lowest unemployment rates for residents ages 16 to 24 at 8.3%.
At $1,054 per month, median rent prices are some of the highest in Forbes’ study, but Milwaukee also has one of the lowest hourly living wages: $20.11 per hour, the 10th lowest in the report. Milwaukee makes up for its high rent prices with lower food and transportation costs of about $4,300 and $9,400 per year, respectively. Food costs were highest in Arlington, Va. (over $5,600/year), and transportation costs were highest in Nashville, Tenn. (nearly $11,000/year).
Milwaukee’s rental vacancy rate of 5% put it ahead of nearby Chicago (3.8%) and Madison (2.5% 鈥� the lowest rate in the study). Milwaukee boasts the fifth-most fitness establishments per capita in the report: nearly 600 per 100,000 residents. It also has greater-than-average numbers of entertainment and food establishments per resident.
Forbes gave Milwaukee above-average walk and bike scores (61.5 and 57.6, respectively) and a below-average transit score (48.7). All scores were out of 100.
Where to make friends after college in Milwaukee
One of the biggest challenges young adults face when moving to a new city is meeting new people. Unlike in high school, it’s much less common to regularly interact with numerous similarly aged peers, especially if you work or attend classes remotely.
Here are some popular options for those new to Milwaukee:
- Join a running or walking club:听Milwaukee is home to听听that traverse the city’s various lakefront and riverside trails. The听听hosts at least one run every day at various times and in various locations around the city.听, Milwaukee’s oldest running group, offers a marathon training program, local races and other activities throughout the year. The Latino-influenced听听is one of the city’s newest and most popular. Local running specialty store听听also hosts regular runs and events. All of these groups offer options for various levels of runners, including walkers and beginners. If running isn’t your thing,听听offers group walks, exercise classes and social events multiple times throughout the week.
- Play a recreational sport:听听offers year-round recreational sports leagues; its wide selection includes volleyball, kickball, cornhole, tennis, pickleball, soccer, softball and more. You can build your own team or join as an individual.听听also offers leagues in basketball, soccer, flag football, golf, kickball, volleyball and more.听听meets on Tuesday evenings to try a new sport each week. Past sports have included beach volleyball, soccer, board games, spikeball and underwater hockey. Every summer,听听hosts popular volleyball leagues for all abilities (from beginners to those playing for prize money) at Bradford Beach and Grant Park.
- Sign up for a book club:听Local bookstore Boswell Book Company hosts听听including sci-fi, romance and in-store lit clubs. The听听meets monthly at locations around the city to discuss a variety of genres. The Milwaukee Public Library听, both virtually and at branch locations. Cactus Club’s听听hosts monthly book discussions, often highlighting current events or social justice.
- Take a class:听听offers classes in yoga, cooking, music, foreign languages, art, and more for people of all ages and abilities. The Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design hosts community art classes covering a variety of mediums through its听. The听University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Continuing Education program听offers classes and certificates in business, career success, data analysis, digital marketing, foreign languages and much more.
- Browse the Internet:听Dozens more Milwaukee social groups and clubs regularly list events on the听听and听听apps. Local event calendars on Facebook, the听听and听听are also great places to check for things to do.