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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Blogs
Student housing guides, tips, and stories for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The Safest Neighborhoods for UW-Milwaukee Students
UWM students who care about safe neighborhoods mostly cluster on the Upper East Side, in Murray Hill, up around North Point by Lake Park, or across the line in Shorewood. But near UW-Milwaukee, safety is less about the block you pick and more about using the free tools your tuition already buys: the B.O.S.S. safe-ride van, the Safe Walkers, blue-light phones, and the RAVE Guardian app.
Do You Need a Car at UW-Milwaukee? Transit and the East Side
Getting through UWM without a car is not just doable — it is how most East Side students already live. The free U-PASS covers unlimited MCTS bus rides, seven routes stop at the Student Union on Kenwood Boulevard, and a year of Bublr Bikes costs UWM students just $8.
Best East Side Neighborhoods for UW-Milwaukee Students
The best UWM East Side housing sits in Murray Hill, between Oakland and Downer Avenue, a 5-to-10-minute walk from campus. One-bedrooms on the Upper East Side run around $1,085 in summer 2026, with cheaper rooms across the river in Riverwest.
How Much Does Off-Campus Housing Near UW-Milwaukee Cost?
The average rent near UWM runs about $940 for a studio, $1,195 for a one-bedroom, and $1,494 for a two-bedroom on the upper East Side in 2026 — but most students pay $500–$800 per person by splitting a house or by-the-bed apartment.