Living in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Green Bay is Wisconsin's third-largest city, home to roughly 107,000 people in a metro of about 330,000. It's the oldest settlement in the state, a working Great Lakes port at the mouth of the Fox River, and — obviously — the smallest market in the NFL.

What surprises people who move here is how much city you get for the money: a hospital system with thousands of jobs, a university, a downtown with real restaurants and music, a growing food and brewery scene, and a 15-minute commute across town on a bad day.

For renters, Green Bay is the region's most complete option — every price point, every neighborhood type, and suburbs like Howard, Bellevue, Ashwaubenon and De Pere that feel like small towns with city access.

Green Bay is friendly, casual and unusually communal for a city its size — the Packers being publicly owned is not a gimmick here, it's the local personality in a nutshell.

Neighborhoods vary a lot: historic Astor and East River homes near downtown, family subdivisions on the far east and west sides, walkable De Pere with its college-town feel, and quieter Howard and Suamico to the north along Duck Creek and the bay.

It's a young-ish city by Wisconsin standards, and increasingly diverse — with substantial Hmong, Latino and Oneida communities that shape the food scene and the calendar of festivals.

The bay and the Fox River are the recreational spine: trails, marinas, fishing, and one of the better urban park systems in the Midwest.

• Kroll's West

  Butter burgers on a grill across from Lambeau, since forever. Order it with the works.

• Al's Hamburger

  A downtown-adjacent lunch counter institution that has been flipping burgers for decades.

• Broadway District

  Green Bay's most concentrated food-and-drink strip: breweries, cocktail bars, ramen, tacos, coffee and the Saturday farmers market.

• Supper clubs and fish fry

  Brown County takes Friday fish seriously — perch, cod and old fashioneds in every direction.

• Hmong, Mexican and Oneida food

  Some of the best eating in the city is in strip-mall kitchens on the west and east sides — egg rolls, larb, birria, and Oneida frybread at community events.

• Titletown District

  Restaurants, a beer garden, a sledding hill and an ice rink built next to Lambeau Field.

Local businesses change hands and hours — call ahead before you drive.

• Lambeau Field and the Packers Hall of Fame

  Stadium tours run year-round, and game day is a citywide event even if you don't have tickets.

• Bay Beach Amusement Park

  A city-run lakefront amusement park with famously cheap rides and the Zippin Pippin roller coaster.

• Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary

  A free 700-acre urban wildlife refuge with trails, rehab exhibits and winter deer feeding.

• Green Bay Botanical Garden

  Forty-seven acres of gardens, plus the WPS Garden of Lights in winter.

• National Railroad Museum

  One of the country's oldest and largest rail museums, including a Big Boy locomotive.

• Trails, fishing and the bay

  The Fox River Trail, Mountain Bay Trail, walleye runs on the Fox and salmon fishing on the bay.

• Live music and theater

  The Weidner Center, Resch Center and Meyer Theatre bring national tours through town.

• Green Bay Area Public School District

  The state's fourth-largest district, with multiple high schools, magnet and immersion programs, and extensive career/technical education.

• Suburban districts

  Howard-Suamico, Ashwaubenon, De Pere, West De Pere and Pulaski are consistently strong districts — many families choose a suburb specifically for the school.

• Private and parochial

  Notre Dame Academy and a large Catholic and Lutheran school network serve the metro.

• Colleges

  UW–Green Bay, St. Norbert College in De Pere, and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) are all in the metro.

• Healthcare

  Bellin Health, Aurora BayCare, HSHS St. Vincent and Prevea are among the metro's largest employers.

• Paper and packaging

  Green Bay is a global paper town — Georgia-Pacific, Green Bay Packaging and related converting operations employ thousands.

• Food processing

  Schreiber Foods is headquartered downtown; JBS and other protein and dairy processors are major employers.

• Insurance and finance

  Humana, Associated Bank and Schneider-adjacent logistics finance roles anchor the office job market.

• Transportation and logistics

  Schneider National is headquartered in Green Bay, along with the Port of Green Bay and rail operations.

• Education and government

  UW–Green Bay, NWTC, the school districts, Brown County and the Oneida Nation are all major employers.

• I-41 and I-43 meet here — Appleton in 35 minutes, Milwaukee in about two hours, Door County in under an hour.
• Green Bay Metro runs city bus service; most residents still drive, and cross-town trips rarely exceed 20 minutes.
• Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) offers direct flights to major hubs.
• The Fox River Trail and Baird Creek corridors make bike commuting realistic in warm months.

• Green Bay's cost of living sits below the national average, and housing is dramatically cheaper than Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago or the Twin Cities.
• Townhome-style rentals with attached garages — common in suburbs like Howard — cost far less here than equivalent space in a larger metro.
• Utilities and winter heating are the main seasonal expense; many local rentals include heat and water.

Is Green Bay a good place to live?

Yes — it offers big-city amenities (healthcare, university, airport, pro sports, dining) with short commutes and a cost of living below the national average.

What are the best areas to live in Green Bay?

Downtown and Astor for walkability and historic homes; De Pere for a college-town feel; Howard, Suamico and Bellevue for newer, quieter family neighborhoods; Ashwaubenon for proximity to Lambeau and shopping.

What are the biggest employers in Green Bay?

Healthcare systems (Bellin, Aurora BayCare, HSHS), paper and packaging (Georgia-Pacific, Green Bay Packaging), Schreiber Foods, Schneider National, Humana and the Oneida Nation.

Are there townhomes for rent in Green Bay?

Yes — Riverview Estates offers 1 and 2 bedroom townhomes along Duck Creek in Howard with attached garages, heat and water included.