The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In Milwaukee For 2022


We used data and science to identify the neighborhoods in Milwaukee that are the real pits.

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Milwaukee's neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You've got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.

It seems as if there's a neighborhood for everyone in Milwaukee.

And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the country thanks in part to a strong economy and tons of entertainment, it's not all rainbows and sunshine in Milwaukee. Some neighborhoods aren't as great as others.

So the question arises, which Milwaukee neighborhoods are the worst, and which are the best?

Today, we'll use science and data to determine which Milwaukee hoods need a little tender loving care - the sore thumbs of the Milwaukee area if you will. Realistically, you can't expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although Downer Woods ranks way above the rest.

We examined 179 of Milwaukee's neighborhoods to find out the worst places to live. These places don't quite measure up to Milwaukee's reputation.

So what's the worst neighborhood to live in Milwaukee for 2022? According to the most recent census data, Metcalfe Park looks to be the worst neighborhood in Milwaukee.

Read on to see how we determined the places around Milwaukee that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don't blame the messenger.

Once you're done, you can look at the bottom of the story for a complete chart of every neighborhood we looked at from worst to best. Looking for places to avoid outside of the city? You can also check out the worst suburbs of Milwaukee.

For more Wisconsin reading, check out:

Worst Neighborhoods In Milwaukee

The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In Milwaukee For 2022

Sitting northwest of downtown, Metcalfe Park is a small, square area. Despite its name, it doesn't have that much in the way of green space. You'll find the namesake park and Butterfly Park in the southwest corner of the neighborhood.

Meanwhile, there's a string of shops and restaurants along North Ave. Otherwise, the rest of the section is largely residential.

The strike against Metcalfe Park comes down to economics. Finding a job is extremely difficult, with an unemployment rate hitting 12.8%. At the same time, the available jobs don't pay very well. The median income stands at $22,064.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 2,673
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $53,175 (11th worst)
Median Income: $22,064 (9th worst)
More on Metcalfe Park:  Data

Yes, Triangle North is shaped like a triangle. And, yes, it's located north of downtown. No surprises there.

Specifically, the neighborhood is bounded on the east by I-43, on the west by Fond Du Lac Ave., and on the north by, well...North Ave. In terms of amenities, you have a concentrated commercial strip along North Ave., plus a bunch of surrounding parks, including Lloyd Park toward the southern end of the area.

Otherwise, the residents of Triangle North face a dumpster-fire economy. This includes double-digit unemployment rates and a median income that hovers around the $25,000 mark.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,563
Rank Last Year: 2 (Up 1)
Median Home Value: $72,660 (34th worst)
Median Income: $24,584 (14th worst)
More on Triangle North:  Data

Halyard Park is part of a cluster of areas on the north side that make this list. Like its sister neighborhoods, it ends up as the number 3 worst spot in Milwaukee for 2022 because of a stifling economic environment.

Specifically, Halyard Park faces crippling unemployment and a dearth of livable wages. The jobless rate stands at 11.9%. At the same time, the median income equals just $24,730.

Still, despite these challenges, Halyard Park shows a ton of neighborhood pride and a persistent sense of history. You can see it in places like St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church and at America's Black Holocaust Museum, located in the region.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 616
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $70,650 (30th worst)
Median Income: $24,730 (15th worst)
More on Halyard Park:  Data

Predictably, North Division stands north of downtown. So north, in fact, that North Ave. represents its southern border. The square neighborhood is otherwise bounded by 20th St. on the west, I-43 on the east and Burleigh St. on the north.

Part of the northern boundary is also taken up by Union Cemetery. It features "residents" going back to the 1850s, as well as at least one U.S. Congressman, who died in the early 20th century.

Besides hundred-year-old corpses, what can you find in the North Division? Well, not good-paying jobs, that's for sure. In fact, the median income comes in at a paltry $22,031.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 6,023
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $45,575 (4th worst)
Median Income: $22,031 (8th worst)
More on North Division:  Data

Ah, Hillside. Sounds like an ideal spot. Visions come to mind of a Saturday picnic on the slope of a picturesque knoll, surrounded by fragrant grass and dotted with brightly colored wildflowers.

Well, there's a couple parks in Hillside, like James W. Beckum Park and Carver Park, but nothing like that idyllic scene we described. In fact, this neighborhood is probably better called "Highwayside"...after all, the area is bounded on two sides by major traffic arteries.

Proximity to an interstate is either good or bad, depending on your point of view. However, there's nothing ambiguous about the economic situation. All bad. In fact, it's tough to find jobs that even pay more than $20,000 in Hillside.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,622
Rank Last Year: 5 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $23,633 (2nd worst)
Median Income: $18,505 (worst)
More on Hillside:  Data

You've got the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. You've also got Williamsburg, Virginia, a place where people dress like it's the 18th century and give demonstrations of old-timey technology, like how to shoe a horse or how to make candles.

Now we've got the Milwaukee version. How does it hold up? Well, no people in hoop skirts or knee britches. Also, there isn't even that much cause to demonstrate modern technology. Work in general is hard to find. And you don't just have to be a candle maker or horse-shoer to find yourself without a gig.

The overall unemployment rate comes in at 10.1%. At the same time, wages are low. The median income sits at $24,766.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 2,641
Rank Last Year: 6 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $71,980 (33rd worst)
Median Income: $24,766 (16th worst)
More on Williamsburg:  Data

You have to keep your guard up when dealing with real estate agents. Their job is to sell houses. So neighborhoods get names like Garden Homes. Sounds like an estate in the English countryside, surrounded by rose bushes and a riding track for your pony.

Well, you won't find that kind of garden home here. Instead, you've got an urban neighborhood on the north side of the city...one that also counts as the number 7 worst area of Milwaukee for 2022.

As has become the habit on this list so far, you can blame financial stress for diminished state of the neighborhood. Once again, here's a location plagued by high unemployment and low median incomes.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 3,016
Rank Last Year: 7 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $35,140 (3rd worst)
Median Income: $27,673 (30th worst)
More on Garden Homes:  Data

There are a lot of cultural associations related to clock towers. In 1966, a guy named Charles Whitman went up a tower in Texas and shot a bunch of people with a rifle. So there's that image to contend with. Meanwhile, you've got the clock tower in Back to the Future, which gets struck by lightning as part of the movie's climax. Another less-than-stellar mental connection that jumps to mind when you hear the term "clock tower."

Well, Clock Tower Acres isn't likely to erase those memories. In fact, it will probably add to those negative affiliations. Located in the southern part of the city, along I-94, it struggles to provide enough jobs for its residents. As a result, the area ends up with a median income of $26,556 and an unemployment rate of 8.8%.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 881
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $50,467 (8th worst)
Median Income: $26,556 (23rd worst)
More on Clock Tower Acres:  Data

Want to buy an apartment in New York City's Central Park West? It might cost you a few million dollars. Want a house in Milwaukee's Park West? A little more affordable. The median home value equals $51,536.

So that's one for Park West vs. one of the nicest neighborhoods in Manhattan. Anything else in its favor? Um...well...honestly, it gets a little hard from there. This neighborhood in the northwest part of Milwaukee gets ground down by a jagged economic situation. It only supports a median income of $21,585, while the unemployment rate comes in at 12.2%.

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 6,270
Rank Last Year: 9 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $51,536 (9th worst)
Median Income: $21,585 (7th worst)
More on Park West:  Data

You're not going to live like a king in King Park. Quite the opposite. After all, this counts as number 10 on a list of the worst neighborhoods in Milwaukee for 2022.

But how bad is it? Well, let's start with the median income of $20,025. Hardly a king's ransom. But at least the people earning their $20K can claim a job. That's a lot in a neighborhood where the unemployment rate reaches 9.2%.

Still, there are points of pride in the area. Residents can take a royal stroll through the actual King Park, located in the middle of the neighborhood.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 2,146
Rank Last Year: 10 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $45,840 (5th worst)
Median Income: $20,025 (4th worst)
More on King Park:  Data

Methodology: How we determined the worst Milwaukee neighborhoods in 2022

To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We threw the following criteria into this analysis in order to get the best, most complete results possible. We used this set of criteria for each neighborhood in Milwaukee:

  • High unemployment (Less jobs)
  • Low median income (Less pay)
  • Low population density (No things to do)
  • Low home values (No one's willing to pay to live here)
  • High crime (Estimated)

Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for each of these criteria from worst to best.

Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criteria into a "Worst Score".

The neighborhood with the lowest "Worst Score" ranks as the worst neighborhood of Milwaukee.

Read on below to learn more about these terrible places around Milwaukee to live. Or skip to the end to see the list of all 179 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.

This list is a scientific analysis based on real data and is completely unbiased. Hold on to your pants.

Summary: The Worst Neighborhoods Around Milwaukee

Well there you have it -- the worst of the neighborhoods in Milwaukee with Metcalfe Park landing at the bottom of the pack.

As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Milwaukee aren't all bad. Downer Woods takes the cake as the best place to live in Milwaukee.

We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.

For more Wisconsin reading, check out:

Where Are The Worst Neighborhoods To Live In Milwaukee For 2022?

Rank Neighborhood Population Home Value Median Income
1 Metcalfe Park 2,673 $53,175 $22,064
2 Triangle North 1,563 $72,660 $24,584
3 Halyard Park 616 $70,650 $24,730
4 North Division 6,023 $45,575 $22,031
5 Hillside 1,622 $23,633 $18,505
6 Williamsburg 2,641 $71,980 $24,766
7 Garden Homes 3,016 $35,140 $27,673
8 Clock Tower Acres 881 $50,467 $26,556
9 Park West 6,270 $51,536 $21,585
10 King Park 2,146 $45,840 $20,025
11 Fairfield 2,622 $71,580 $30,280
12 Borchert Field 3,405 $53,950 $25,183
13 Old North Milwaukee 11,494 $61,000 $27,024
14 Midtown 6,807 $62,338 $26,767
15 Havenwoods 1,272 $68,550 $30,000
16 Harambee 12,435 $53,462 $19,812
17 Grover Heights 266 $95,300 $40,833
18 Sherman Park 6,916 $69,841 $29,307
19 Triangle 765 $90,050 $33,206
20 Franklin Heights 6,836 $48,150 $25,840
21 Baran Park 769 $80,300 $34,879
22 Walnut Hill 2,343 $57,575 $29,564
23 Roosevelt Grove 5,709 $75,755 $29,979
24 Washington Park 4,448 $63,050 $25,323
25 Menomonee River Valley 2,476 $70,386 $30,915
26 Arlington Heights 4,414 $54,483 $23,732
27 Martin Drive 1,503 $90,550 $27,296
28 Town And Country Manor 1,527 $112,933 $36,243
29 Northridge Lakes 2,203 $46,700 $23,200
30 Graceland 2,327 $83,350 $36,042
31 Walker's Point 7,065 $77,077 $28,660
32 Merrill Park 2,966 $61,083 $20,177
33 Mcgovern Park 3,643 $66,617 $33,811
34 Lincoln Park 5,267 $83,757 $32,614
35 Concordia 3,128 $84,500 $25,198
36 North Meadows 2,099 $138,650 $27,050
37 Cold Spring Park 2,142 $78,900 $19,488
38 Estabrook Park 747 $120,800 $28,672
39 Park View 566 $80,700 $24,250
40 Dineen Park 4,010 $94,220 $33,841
41 Rufus King 4,145 $85,414 $32,002
42 Wahl Park 2,621 $73,867 $33,543
43 Valhalla 3,872 $57,625 $34,173
44 Saint Joseph 6,020 $105,862 $35,368
45 Lincoln Creek 7,301 $81,833 $34,958
46 Holler Park 532 $108,300 $43,235
47 Granville Station 1,898 $89,067 $47,130
48 Silver Spring 12,433 $74,220 $34,350
49 Clarke Square 6,852 $75,450 $23,453
50 Southgate 2,717 $97,500 $39,300
51 Tripoli Park 522 $129,100 $45,050
52 Historic Mitchell Street 11,308 $54,827 $25,922
53 Whispering Hills 251 $62,500 $31,815
54 Brynwood 1,291 $53,000 $30,193
55 Lenox Heights 1,912 $113,060 $33,302
56 Thurston Woods 3,656 $81,020 $31,541
57 Maple Tree 1,184 $165,200 $40,313
58 Servite Woods 896 $71,800 $42,212
59 Wyrick Park 1,601 $109,700 $36,686
60 Menomonee River Hills East 3,348 $98,325 $40,500
61 Grasslyn Manor 4,848 $98,610 $37,987
62 Miller Valley 1,504 $137,233 $46,292
63 Freedom Village 210 $62,500 $31,815
64 Avenues West 8,847 $23,169 $20,784
65 Hampton Heights 7,560 $80,343 $35,298
66 Silver Swan 3,615 $92,050 $34,114
67 Lincoln Village 11,856 $80,158 $27,275
68 Muskego Way 11,525 $73,608 $26,522
69 Uptown 6,605 $105,246 $37,542
70 Kilbourn Town 4,159 $64,200 $45,010
71 Brown Deer Park 1,282 $129,100 $45,050
72 Forest Home Hills 5,977 $96,817 $31,816
73 Land Bank 2,251 $91,933 $40,871
74 North Granville 2,208 $138,650 $27,046
75 Sunset Heights 4,421 $105,086 $39,151
76 Riverton Heights 546 $138,100 $61,848
77 Capitol Heights 6,588 $95,673 $49,878
78 National Park 2,253 $88,075 $31,852
79 Granville Woods 342 $62,500 $31,815
80 Bradley Estates 1,809 $104,167 $53,964
81 Vogel Park 2,497 $89,400 $48,283
82 Timmerman West 5,211 $110,350 $38,872
83 Long View 3,079 $86,575 $50,016
84 Melody View 159 $151,000 $50,208
85 Grantosa 1,856 $97,150 $37,458
86 Silver City 4,535 $90,160 $33,498
87 Mitchell West 3,641 $104,475 $37,754
88 Fair Park 1,185 $125,000 $42,723
89 Polonia 5,992 $110,538 $36,874
90 Little Menomonee Parkway 1,043 $117,700 $43,218
91 Arlington Gardens 2,466 $113,175 $39,826
92 Jones' Island 557 $141,400 $44,868
93 Columbus Park 4,203 $100,450 $41,796
94 Calumet Farms 1,256 $230,400 $55,938
95 Parkway Hills 967 $110,900 $36,420
96 Mount Olivet 785 $147,800 $30,733
97 Southpoint 3,418 $123,550 $43,366
98 Wilson Park 3,750 $109,150 $31,320
99 Zoo 604 $134,600 $43,781
100 The Valley-Pigsville 407 $153,700 $57,860
101 Historic Third Ward 1,052 $129,250 $84,391
102 Morgandale 8,624 $122,060 $46,705
103 Story Hill 1,814 $132,350 $50,608
104 Lindsay Park 4,956 $108,520 $38,162
105 Saint Amelian's 1,622 $101,150 $40,778
106 Layton Park 9,252 $104,875 $41,539
107 Burnham Park 8,504 $93,256 $39,637
108 Menomonee River Hills 8,811 $112,650 $46,088
109 Menomonee River Parkway 359 $131,300 $50,938
110 Pollber Heights 110 $151,000 $50,208
111 Heritage Heights 1,905 $165,200 $40,313
112 Brewer's Hill 2,227 $142,800 $48,704
113 Enderis Park 3,238 $129,117 $42,110
114 Park Knoll 701 $145,750 $55,972
115 Johnson's Woods 2,980 $118,050 $45,000
116 Saveland Park 1,121 $135,100 $56,790
117 Root Creek 2,038 $132,800 $46,307
118 Florist Highlands 1,302 $150,750 $50,590
119 Park Place 1,268 $230,400 $55,938
120 Honey Creek Parkway 825 $135,800 $51,484
121 New Coeln 90 $137,500 $63,839
122 Pheasant Run 1,624 $129,100 $52,500
123 Harbor View 1,183 $150,267 $50,644
124 Bluemound Heights 3,590 $119,214 $46,598
125 Castle Manor 3,632 $142,620 $42,218
126 Nash Park 2,310 $110,567 $47,679
127 Maitland Park 822 $149,800 $58,898
128 Jackson Park 7,407 $139,318 $50,335
129 Wick Field 614 $150,400 $49,167
130 Hawley Farms 1,695 $126,133 $44,212
131 Riverwest 12,197 $143,569 $43,872
132 Hawthorne Glen 254 $150,400 $49,167
133 White Manor 1,536 $133,833 $54,057
134 Mitchell Field 1,752 $145,250 $58,649
135 Alverno 1,059 $155,000 $38,571
136 Cambridge Heights 2,331 $172,620 $36,397
137 Lyons Park 1,827 $133,100 $53,157
138 Cannon Park 2,203 $139,050 $51,344
139 Town Of Lake 5,450 $144,167 $55,016
140 Bay View 15,069 $151,109 $58,175
141 Mill Valley 899 $134,500 $66,250
142 Kops Park 3,156 $122,175 $56,854
143 Green Moor 510 $145,200 $56,719
144 Golden Gate 375 $174,800 $81,583
145 Mack Acres 261 $174,800 $81,583
146 Riverside Park 2,524 $222,733 $34,597
147 Murray Hill 4,008 $224,875 $49,929
148 Fairview 3,930 $129,357 $58,151
149 Honey Creek Manor 3,014 $130,375 $41,129
150 College Heights 886 $136,400 $65,096
151 Valley Forge 198 $185,500 $54,318
152 Morgan Heights 1,723 $163,400 $66,739
153 West View 1,761 $130,800 $49,688
154 Woodland Court 658 $150,800 $55,123
155 Golden Valley 2,774 $137,750 $62,387
156 Juneau Town 5,521 $225,017 $59,091
157 Cooper Park 3,369 $144,433 $59,550
158 Tippecanoe 6,261 $144,789 $57,484
159 Yankee Hill 3,352 $281,714 $38,110
160 Clayton Crest 2,006 $159,150 $55,852
161 Alcott Park 1,764 $163,400 $66,739
162 Gra-Ram 2,357 $150,133 $55,697
163 Upper East Side 3,297 $277,450 $59,591
164 Highwood Estates 1,951 $145,400 $39,820
165 Lower East Side 11,051 $228,600 $45,767
166 Mount Mary 1,955 $145,500 $72,966
167 River Bend 1,402 $144,500 $63,660
168 Washington Heights 7,146 $152,300 $61,358
169 Harder's Oaks 511 $159,600 $57,969
170 Goldman Park 1,864 $152,450 $65,040
171 Copernicus Park 1,293 $165,900 $66,477
172 Euclid Park 1,912 $165,800 $50,111
173 Northpoint 5,695 $257,962 $66,314
174 Schlitz Park 528 $222,200 $67,569
175 Rolling Green 1,997 $150,800 $55,123
176 Wedgewood 1,774 $168,450 $66,628
177 Red Oak Heights 1,086 $178,900 $64,663
178 Fernwood 2,709 $183,280 $62,028
179 Downer Woods 4,628 $319,400 $68,167

Editor's Note: This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. Don't freak out we updated this article for 2022. This is our time ranking the worst neighborhoods to live in Milwaukee.

About Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson earned his masters in Business Administration from the Drucker School At Claremont Graduate University. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. He has been featured in over 500 publications as an expert in real estate and as an authority on real estate trends.

Nick's the creator of the HomeSnacks YouTube channel that now has over 260,000 subscribers and is an excellent source to learn about different parts of the country.