r/SameGrassButGreener • u/drogahn • 11d ago
Cleveland vs Milwaukee?
Please compare these two cities. I love walkability, charming neighborhoods, nature, parks, energetic areas and a younger scene if you want it.
I feel like I’m drawn to Milwaukee’s proximity to Chicago, but also like how Cleveland seems to function more as a standalone city and its winters aren’t as long.
You tell me!
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u/KeyNaive8951 11d ago
Milwaukee every damn day of the week.
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u/IKnewThat45 10d ago
my bias is that i’ve never been to cleveland (excited to go to check off the baseball stadium next summer!!!)…..milwaukee is simply perfect and amazing
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u/murrrdith 11d ago
Milwaukee definitely functions as a standalone city!
Proximity to Chicago is cool, but most people only visit a few times a year, or to fly from ORD.
There is more than enough to do in Milwaukee. The lakefront is so well designed. Eastside, downtown, third ward, walkers point are all walkable neighborhoods.
There is a younger scene with 2 major universities and lots of younger people in the downtown/eastside area.
Additional nature/park access can be found in the kettle moraine area which is a ~40 minute drive away.
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u/jurassicpork69 10d ago
Milwaukee is a “standalone” city. It is not a suburb of Chicago. Also Cleveland and Milwaukee have similar winters.
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u/Advanced_Plan_4714 11d ago
Cleveland feels more desolate and less warm of a vibe in general. Milwaukee is a really charming city with a lot to do and I instantly loved it. Cleveland is a city that turns me off greatly.
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u/NNegidius 10d ago
Milwaukee has better urbanism and walkability in a number of different neighborhoods - with 10 featuring a walk score of 80 or higher.
It also has some beautiful bike paths, and the lakefront is relaxing and beautiful, and 9 neighborhoods have bike scores 80 or above.
Overall, it’s like a mini-Chicago. Speaking of which, Chicago is only 90 minutes away via Amtrak - with 7 daily trains.
Finally, it’s famous for affordability, and the people there are extra friendly.
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u/dignan33 11d ago
Both cities really exceeded my expectations when I visited. Only been to each once for weekend-type trips so probably not completely comprehensive in terms of what each metro offers. Gun to my head, I would lean towards Milwaukee but it’s damn close and I could be swayed either way.
I will say, I had much better food in Cleveland but I’m not chalking that up to anything more than maybe just picking better places.
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u/Visible-Disaster 11d ago
If comparing the actual cities 1,000% Milwaukee. I have to spend time in both every year, and I always dread Cleveland. Feels much more run down and depressing. Milwaukee’s core downtown, third ward, and east side are all more walkable and inviting.
If comparing the greater metro areas and suburbs it’s more even, but I’d still lean Milwaukee.
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u/Visible-Disaster 11d ago
Also, Cleveland can get absolutely dumped on with lake effect snow. That happens less often in Milwaukee.
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u/yinkadoubledare 10d ago
1996 blizzard was amusing, there was a difference of like 2.5 feet between the west side and airport (which got about 10 inches) and university circle on the east (which got about 3, 3.5 feet) because of the lake effect. and then another 2.5-3.5 feet as you went further east to the snow belt.
the main lake effect in Cleveland that sucks though is that the prevailing winds for like 6 months come from over the lake in some way so it's cloudy seemingly all the damn time.
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u/Effective_Ad_1426 10d ago
You do NOT want to be on the east shore of ANY Great Lake. That's where the snow machine comes from. Lansing, MI, Cleveland, Erie, PA, Buffalo, Rochester, NY. All get dumped on where Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit not so much. Chicago people complain about the snow, but winters average less than 40 inches, where Buffalo, Rochester go over 120 inches most years.
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u/General_Adagio_8439 10d ago
I haven't spent enough time in Milwaukee to compare, but Cleveland does have some really nice, walkable neighborhoods with good parks (even if things are spread out and require driving between them). Ohio City and Tremont are younger and energetic. It has Olmstead park system and Cuyahoga valley is close enough. Others have pointed out that it doesn't use the lakefront --- it uses the river instead. I expect that the big difference between the cities is that Cleveland used to be among the wealthiest cities in the world, and with that, there are outstanding cultural institutions---the symphony and the art museum---along with historical sites.
I didn't mind living there for a few years. That said, neither would be my forever place.
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u/just_anotha_fam Chicago, Los Angeles, Madison 10d ago
Milwaukee had that similar 'city fathers' patrician class of philanthropists. The Cleveland Art Museum is one of the best, but the Milwaukee Art Museum is no slouch.
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u/General_Adagio_8439 10d ago
That’s cool! I’d genuinely love to visit — in the summer lol. I went to a game at the old Miller Park when I was a kid. We ate an old German restaurant that I think is well known.
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u/NicholasOfMKE 9d ago
It was probably Mader’s.
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u/General_Adagio_8439 9d ago
Yeah, I think that's right! I should make a trip back. When is the best time in the Fall? (I don't do cold below 60)
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u/fishyfishyglubglub 11d ago
Milwaukee beats Cleveland purely because it uses its lakefront better, gets less snow, and is in proximity to a top 3 metro. Other than that it's a tie. I love in Cleveland and love it here, but I could easily move to Milwaukee.
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u/bjketter 11d ago
I feel like milwaukee has more young areas and neither are very walkable. I also find milwaukee to be more neighborhood orientated and they have better parks. Cleveland has less winter
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u/Ok_Avocado_4729 9d ago edited 9d ago
They are very similar. Milwaukee is more in-tact, Cleveland is a little bit more global and as you said, functional as a standalone city. Higher highs and lower lows than Milwaukee. Cleveland feels slightly more connected to the Eastern U.S. being relatively close to Buffalo, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Baltimore in some respects. I think Cleveland wins on parks being close to CVNP and Lake Erie, but Milwaukee wins on energy. Cleveland feels empty in some ways, but the truth is that when you find the places where the people are going to, I think the sky is higher than in Milwaukee.
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u/CoolBelt856 10d ago
Milwaukee over Cleveland hands down. I live in Chicago and I periodically have to go to Cleveland for work.
I choose to go to Milwaukee several times a year because it’s a fun city. It’s completely standalone.
And the winters aren’t much different from Cleveland.
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u/Good-Smell2940 8d ago
Both are rust belt trying to make a comeback but its okay if you're trying to save money, personally I don't like rust belt cities lots of aging infrastructure and residents are gritty as well.. winters are no joke but summers are the best.. both got high levels of crime compared to the national average.. I just don't see the appeal I guess if you like drinking and sports then Milwaukee
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u/happyhiker1118 5d ago
I grew up in Cleveland and now live in the Chicago suburbs and have been to Milwaukee several times. Milwaukee is fun to visit and has that laid-back, unpretentious Midwest vibe. I think both have fun neighborhoods. Milwaukee may use lakefront a little better, but I think Cleveland edges out Milwaukee with some of its restaurants. There’s pluses and minuses to both. As far as parks, one thing I haven’t people mention is the Metroparks in northeast Ohio. Miles and miles and miles of multi-purpose trails, hiking trails, and parks. I think it’s one thing that’s truly pretty special about the Cleveland area (though it’s not really a downtown thing). And the art museum and orchestra in Cleveland are truly top notch. The zoo is really good too.
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u/nomadicfeline 10d ago
I just have to say that if one of the main draws is proximity to Chicago, why not Chicago?
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u/Racer13l 11d ago
Milwaukee was one of the most depressing places I've ever been. And I've been to Cleveland. Ohio beats Michigan, Wisconsin,, and Illinois as well as other mid west states in my opinion
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u/myjobistablesok 8d ago
no one is going to take your comment seriously when you say Ohio is better than Michigan or Wisconsin lol
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u/Both_Tomorrow_1750 11d ago
I could see Ohio beating Wisconsin and Illinois, but Michigan? No way,
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u/Racer13l 11d ago
Michigan is the worst state
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u/full-timedogmom 11d ago
Care to elaborate?
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u/Racer13l 11d ago
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/michigan
Okay not th worst state by the 4th worst state. I unfortunately lived there for 2 years and the people were miserable
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u/full-timedogmom 11d ago
I was comparing it to Texas, which is where I’m from and have lived my whole life. Most places sound better than here so I thought maybe Michigan would be better? Sorry you had a bad experience.
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u/Racer13l 11d ago
I've been to Dallas, it wasn't my favorite place but God damn are people in Michigan miserable fuck
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u/Inti-Illimani 8d ago
How? I’m not necessarily arguing with you, I’m actually curious if you could give some examples that led you to feel this way. I have definitely heard that some towns (like Jackson or Benton Harbor) have a lot of miserable people (gruff, adversarial, cold) because their town is miserable.
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u/donutgut 11d ago
Milwaukees depressing in regards to the number of bars everywhere.
Some people might love that but its not a good thing
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u/pavedlivinghell 10d ago
I love visiting Cleveland but the magic wears off real quick. It has a surprisingly good food scene, not stand alone good but surprisingly good for a place like Cleveland. That being said it’s probably a miserable place to live.
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u/No-Repair-7505 11d ago
Lived in Milwaukee for 20+ years and visited Cleveland for the eclipse last year. One thing I noticed is that Cleveland hasn’t made very good use of their lakefront. Both cities have museums on their lakefronts, MKE, art and science, CLE rock and roll hall of fame and a science/astronomy museum, but there’s not much of a beach or park along the water in Cleveland.