Are you looking for a family-friendly community to move to? Would you like a town or village that has wide-open land as well as close neighborhoods? A place where your kids can ride their bikes or play at the park and be safe? A town that offers great schools, outdoor activities, good shopping, and many things to see and do? How about a location where you can live and work within a few miles of each other? Then living in Menomonee Falls is for you!
Located about 30 minutes from the city of Milwaukee, the village of Menomonee Falls is set in Waukesha County and is considered part of the greater Milwaukee community. Nicknamed “The Falls” by residents, it has everything you’re looking for. Geographically, there is charming countryside, open farm fields, public parks, and rolling hills. But it also has great neighborhoods, good schools, a bustling downtown, and lots of thriving businesses.
Village of Menomonee Falls
There’s a lot to consider when deciding where to live. Things like good schools, property values, location, services, neighborhoods, and community culture are important factors. In the greater Milwaukee region, Menomonee Falls stands out as a desirable community because it provides a strong combination of many positive qualities with a wide variety of living environments across all price points, plus many excellent business opportunities.
Living in Menomonee Falls is an easy choice for you and your family.
Great For Kids
It’s important to note that living in Menomonee Falls is especially great for kids because, according to the latest US census, The Village has approximately 38,000 people – Wisconsin’s most populous village and Waukesha County’s fourth-largest community. More importantly, at least 86% of Menomonee Falls residents are married, with 14,567 households, and 61% of those homes also have children under 18 years of age. That means there are lots of kid-filled neighborhoods where your children can make friends.
For anyone considering moving to Menomonee Falls, it is a wonderful location for both adults and children. The Falls’ slogan is: “More than a Village.” Here are several reasons why Joseph Douglas Homes agrees that Menomonee Falls is the right place for your family:
A Healthy Economy
Because of its easy accessibility, Menomonee Falls used to be thought of as just a bedroom community and suburb of Milwaukee. However, for the past twenty years, it has grown significantly into its own town. It now offers art galleries, a variety of small and large businesses, shopping malls, restaurants, sporting events, concerts, and more. There’s no need to go into the “big city” for anything now.
Fortunately, even during the current difficult economy in 2020, this area has remained financially and economically strong. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Menomonee Falls’ unemployment rate was 8% in June 2020. They already see a recovery in their job market. In 2020, they were able to maintain a lower unemployment rate than the rest of the state of Wisconsin, which has a rate of 8.5%.
This may be partly due to three major businesses located there. The largest one is the department store, Kohls, which has its headquarters in Menomonee Falls. Kohls employs more than 6,000 people in the area. This company has remained resilient throughout the pandemic.
Froedtert Community Memorial Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin has a staff of over 1,400 and is quickly growing. Also, there is a Harley Davidson motorcycle facility that employs at least 1,000 people. Many small- and medium-sized businesses also provide thousands of jobs for residents in the area.
These major corporations and many smaller businesses and retailers have kept Menomonee Falls’ economy afloat.
Top-Rated Schools for a Great Education
Menomonee Falls has four public elementary schools, one middle school, and one public high school. Additionally, there are six private K-12 schools. These top-rated educational facilities make this village very appealing to families.
Describing the 2018-19 school year (using the most recent data), the School District of Menomonee Falls received a score of “Exceeds Expectations” on the report card issued from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). This report measures student engagement and achievement to describe all of the area schools’ performances.
Menomonee Falls High School specifically earned a ranking of “Significantly Exceeds Expectations,” recognizing them as one of the Top 20 high schools in the state of Wisconsin. The fact that Menomonee Falls schools received such a high rating showcases the strong academic success and continuous improvement of their students.
A Variety of Neighborhoods and Locations
Menomonee Falls began as a mill town settled along the Menomonee River. Starting in the 1800s, the residents created a business district and then put in the streets. As the village grew, residential subdivisions were developed, first in the 1930s, then thousands of homes were built in the 1950s. Life boomed in The Falls throughout the next several decades, and new neighborhoods were created to match the business and population growth.
Because of how the community has grown, the variety of neighborhoods across Menomonee Falls come in all sizes and prices of residences. Houses from starter homes to high-end mansions and everything in between are available for the stream of families moving there.
Another reason why living in Menomonee Falls is so desirable is its convenient access to everything southeastern Wisconsin has to offer. Milwaukee and Lake Michigan are less than 30 minutes away, and the Kettle Moraine and the beauty of Lake Country are even closer to The Falls.
Living in Menomonee Falls means you’re:
- Just 30 minutes to Mitchell International Airport
- 25 minutes from downtown Milwaukee
- Just 20 minutes away from several Lake Michigan beaches
- 20 minutes to Miller Park (to watch Milwaukee Brewers baseball), the Zoo, and other attractions
- Adjacent to Sussex, Lisbon, Milwaukee, Germantown, and Brookfield and all their amenities
Services
More than just pretty houses and good schools, the village of Menomonee Falls also has effective and responsive government services. These include libraries, public safety, parks, public works, and more.
Highlights include:
- The Menomonee Falls Recreation Department offers dozens of programs and serves more than 11,000 unique customers a year.
- The Menomonee Falls public library has 344,000 volumes, with a children’s library, a historical collection, and a variety of online services for residents.
- On a routine basis, Menomonee Falls ranks as one of Wisconsin’s safest communities with a highly effective police department.
- With more than 237 miles of local roadways, the public works department keeps them well-maintained and free of snow, ice, and debris.
- Menomonee Falls offers 2,500+ acres of public open space, including 16 parks, a dozen public golf courses, and thirty miles of recreational trails.
In recent years, Menomonee Falls has also received several accolades and awards:
2020 – Money Magazine: Best Places to Live in America, ranked 15th
2020 – AreaVibes.com: Safest City in Wisconsin with 25,000+ residents, ranked 2nd
2019 – ChamberofCommerce.org: Best City to Live in Wisconsin, ranked 8th
2015 – Money Magazine: Best Small Town in America, ranked 32nd
Living in Menomonee Falls: The Community Culture
The village of Menomonee Falls has an ideal mixture of a small-town feel, urban energy with great amenities, and fun, free events for residents. The downtown area has dozens of places where you can drink, eat, and shop; plus explore the Mill Pond, enjoy ornate architecture, historic Lime Kiln Park, and the naturally beautiful waterfalls on the Menomonee River. Residents of The Falls enjoy interacting with neighbors and welcome newcomers with open arms.
The bustling Village Center and Business District is a vibrant destination and a walker’s delight. Within several blocks, residents can enjoy the Riverwalk, Leper Dam, lots of lovely nature, various restaurants, and convenient shopping. In the summer, enjoy live music every Wednesday evening at Mill Pond Park.
Fun Family Activities
All year-round, there’s a full calendar of parades, festivals, farmers markets, sporting events, concerts at the Beer Garden, and lively celebrations. Parades are held on Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Christmas. There are Civil War reenactments at the Old Falls Village Historical Park and Living History Museum. From May to October, there is a farmers market at Lime Kiln Park every week.
While living in Menomonee Falls, there are many opportunities to get together with friends and family at the Falls Memorial Fest, during Trick or Treating, and at the Christmas Market in December.
The Falls Memorial Fest is a festival held every year downtown on Main Street. There’s live music, food vendors, a car show, lots of kids’ activities, various food and beverages, and – even more fun – the Lucky Ducky Derby.
Throughout The Falls, you will also discover art galleries and specialty shops. Your kids can have fun at the entertainment center and creative studios while mom relaxes at a spa and salon.
Dining Out
Living in Menomonee Falls, you and your family will also find a variety of dining options. There is an abundance of unique, locally-owned restaurants, national chains, cafes, taverns, relaxing sit-down places, coffeehouses, and fast food joints. The best part is that there is always a place with menu selections to work with your budget. Everyone will be at the Irish Pub to watch the big game, have a beer, or grab a bite at the Italian deli.
Parks and Recreation
If playing outside is more to your liking, living in Menomonee Falls offers an abundance of opportunities for outdoor activities. Thirty miles of hiking trails can be used all-year-round for cross country skis, bikes, inline skates, and lovely long walks. Throughout the county, sixteen parks provide space for playing baseball, basketball, soccer, and gathering places for family picnics and relaxation. A dozen golf courses have beautiful views and large, well-manicured greens – ideal for the seasoned athlete or the occasional player. The summer offers lots of activities for children, including swimming facilities at many parks and several nearby lakes for fishing, boating, swimming, and other fun water sports.
Money Magazine’s Ranking
Recently, Money Magazine ranked Menomonee Falls at number 15 in the Best Places to Live in America for 2020. The only other Wisconsin location on the list was Sun Prairie, which was ranked at number forty.
According to its website, Money is an online source for financial news and information. It was previously a monthly printed magazine. The magazine highlighted Menomonee Falls quaintness and walk-ability, yet pointed out that the area also has major businesses and a thriving downtown filled with restaurants and shops. Very few communities are fortunate enough to have both.
Other factors that Money also listed were the variety of free community activities and celebrations, the weekly summer beer gardens and concerts, and the fact that the median income in The Falls is $83,000.
Consider Building Your Home in Menomonee Falls, WI
Have you been thinking of moving your family to Menomonee Falls? Maybe you’d like to build your forever home there. If so, your choice for the best custom home builder is Joseph Douglas Homes. They received an A+ grade from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and have won many Metropolitan Builders (MBA) awards for their home designs, and have been consistently voted as the top home builder in southeastern Wisconsin.
Additionally, they take customer service very seriously, and Joseph Douglas’ main focus is to put their clients’ needs first. They even placed second in the nation for customer satisfaction in a recent survey. Their outstanding reputation and award-winning building philosophy reassure their customers that their dream home can be built with complete peace of mind and no stress.
In business for more than two decades, the professional staff of Joseph Douglas Homes can bring the vision of your dream home to life. Using great pricing, quality craftsmanship, and custom designs, they simplify the potentially complicated home building process to help you make the right choices and understand the entire project. To create the home of your dreams, Joseph Douglas Homes provides one-stop shopping for finishes, custom floor plans, and in-house design services.
Deron Butler is Joseph Douglas Homes’ principal architect and founder. His expertise in design and architecture influences all aspects of his construction business. So, whether you want to build a home with one of their plans, create a custom home, or remodel your existing home, Deron and his staff can make it all come true.
Joseph Douglas Homes is the informed buyer’s intelligent choice for building today’s homes. Contact Joseph Douglas Homes today to set up a free consultation or get more information about living in Menomonee Falls.
