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Kenosha is a city within a county – also named Kenosha – in the state of Wisconsin. The county is in the southeasternmost portion of the state, and the city is in the eastern part of the county by Lake Michigan. 

Its location beside one of the Great Lakes is a major reason why many people choose to move here. From 2015 to 2019, Kenosha County saw a net migration of +2,464, according to Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty

If you’re looking to move to Kenosha, what should you expect? What is it like to live next to Lake Michigan?

The ‘Big Little City’

Often called the “Big Little City,” Kenosha is a city with a small town feel. Despite this, it is the fourth largest city in Wisconsin. In a nutshell, it offers access to city amenities but in a suburban setting. 

City streets are navigable and accessible by public transport, and downtown is quite walkable. 

There are tons of small local businesses and restaurants. Some local favorites include Tenuta’s Italian Delicatessen, Paielli’s, Blue House Books, Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets and Equinox Botanical Boutique. There’s also the famous Franks Diner and its Garbage Plate, and several local breweries.  

For fresh organic produce, there’s Kenosha HarborMarket, a farmers market that opens year-round. Anything you can’t find downtown is just a short drive away north in Milwaukee and south in Chicago.  

Art galleries and museums also abound in the city. There’s the Kenosha Public Museum, the Kenosha History Center, the Civil War Museum, the Southport Light Station Museum, and the Dinosaur Discovery Museum. To view art pieces, there’s the Rhode Center for the Arts, Anderson Arts Center and Lemon Street Gallery. 

Housing Along the Lake

Should you decide to relocate here, you’ll add to the nearly 100,000 residents that call this quaint city home. Kenosha’s population skews to the younger and older generations, with a median age of 38 years.

Residents earn a median household income of $64,105, slightly lower than the state’s median household income of $70,996. It’s a good place to retire or raise a family, thanks to its diverse housing styles and sense of community. 

The cost of housing averages around $200,000, while the median gross rent in the city is $985. About 60% of Kenosha residents own their houses, which can range from traditional neighborhood settlements to suburban developments to townhouses and condos to lakefront property. As you can see, there’s a lot of options to fit your lifestyle here. 

Chicagos’ Northernmost Suburb

Kenosha is also known as Chicago’s northernmost suburb. As many as 49% of Kenosha County’s residents commute to work outside of the county. So, it is also considered a bedroom community for the many employees who commute to work to the Windy City and Milwaukee. 

The no. 1 reason for this huge percentage of commuting individuals is Kenosha’s many transportation options to and from these two megalopolis. It offers commuters a public bus system, with more than 60 buses, which travels within the city and county, and beyond. Chicago’s primary commuter rail system Metra also has routes here. 

Meanwhile, people driving to work traverse I-94, which is one of the busiest interstates in the country. People coming farther out of state for a business trip can hop a plane and land on either of the two international airports within 60 miles from Kenosha. 

Employment in Kenosha

Despite nearly half of the labor force commuting to megacities nearby, Kenosha employs a huge portion of its residents. For these employees, traveling to and from their workplaces takes an average of about 23 minutes. 

Where do Kenosha residents work? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the top three industries are Educational services, and health care and social assistance followed by Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services, and then retail trade. Manufacturing employs almost 10%. 

IndustryPercent of Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over
Educational services, and health care and social assistance23.1%
Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services12.6%
Retail trade11.1%
Manufacturing9.9%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services8.7%
Construction6.9%
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing6.7%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities6.0%
Other services, except public administration4.7%
Public administration4.6%
Wholesale trade2.2%
Information1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining1.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Furthermore, based on Life  Balanced: Kenosha County Relocation Guide by Kenosha News and the Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA), Kenosha’s largest employers include Amazon, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Gordon Food Service, and Meijer, Inc. Meanwhile, Uline, Snap-on, Birchwood Farms/Kenosha Beef, Fair Oaks Farms, Jockey International, and Kenall Manufacturing all have headquarters located in the county. 

Lakefront Lifestyle

Imagine waking up to the sun glimmering in the peaceful waters of Lake Michigan. That’s something that’s uniquely possible in Kenosha. Plus, lakeside living offers many opportunities for outdoor activities and forays into the water. It’s totally possible to live here like you’re on vacation every day. 

Beach access

Nearly 90% of the county’s shore is publicly accessible. Miles and miles of Lake Michigan shore can be enjoyed through the many beaches and parks in the county. There are marinas, lighthouses and bike paths as well. 

In Kenosha City, there are five public beaches you can visit to have some time in the sand. These are Simmons Island, Southport, Pennoyer, Alford, and Eichelman. Outside of the city, beaches can be found at inland lakes, including Silver Lake Park, Prairie Springs Park, Lance Park, Old Settlers Park and Richard Bong State Recreation Area.

These areas are also great places for boating, fishing, waterskiing, beach volleyball, walking and biking. They also sometimes host festivals.  

Bird watching

And, it’s not just water and beaches. Kenosha offers bird lovers plenty of opportunities to catch sight of many species that live here or stop by Lake Michigan during their migration. 

“With my frequent trips to the Kenosha shoreline throughout the year, I’ve had an opportunity to observe the changing varieties of shorebirds that stop here to visit while on their annual migrations,” Thomas Corrao muses in Kenosha.com

You’ll find resident geese, gulls, mallards and herons. Or, ducks and cormorants diving underwater to catch fish. Plovers too, though they’re very skittish. And, of course, migratory birds such as saw-billed mergansers and blue and green-winged teal.

“It’s a favorite location of mine to visit when I know the lakes have been rough because I know there will be an opportunity to see them closer up than when they are on the big lake,” Corrao adds.

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