Moving from Reno to Milwaukee

Milwaukee sits on Lake Michigan, and the lake sets the tone for the weather, the housing stock and the calendar. Wisconsin asks new residents to register vehicles on establishing residency and to get a license within 60 days. Here is what a household from Reno finds on arrival and how O'Brien's plans the shipment.

The lake and the snow

NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for Mitchell Airport list a January high of 30.9 degrees with a low of 17.2, and a July high of 81.9 with a low of 64.7. Annual precipitation is 34.57 inches and snow averages 48.7 inches. Reno's January high is 47.7, and its July high is 93.9.

A winter delivery in Milwaukee calls for a cleared drive and a plan for where wet boots and coats go. If you can pick a date between late spring and early fall, your crew works in easier conditions, though the written estimate also covers winter work.

Housing: city and suburbs differ widely

The American Community Survey lists a median home value of $184,000 in the city of Milwaukee and $306,400 in the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro. Median gross rent is $1,059 in the city and $1,139 in the metro, and median household income is $54,234 against $78,218.

The renter share is 58.2 percent in the city and 39.6 percent in the metro. Reno's metro medians are $502,300 for a home and $1,592 for rent. The spread between city and metro is a reminder to pick a neighborhood before deciding how much furniture to bring.

Wisconsin's rules and taxes

Wisconsin DMV says that upon establishing residency you must title and register your vehicle, with no grace period stated in days. A regular driver license is due within 60 days, and a commercial license within 30. Plan the vehicle visit for your first week.

Wisconsin's marginal individual income tax rates range from 3.5 percent to 7.65 percent. The state sales tax is 5 percent, and counties and cities add local tax. Nevada has no individual income tax, so the year of the move needs a tax professional.

How the move works with O'Brien's

You book the move with O'Brien's. We visit your Reno or Sparks home for a free, no-obligation in-home estimate, hand over 10 free heavy-duty boxes and write an itemized written estimate. The shipment moves through the Bekins Van Lines network, and your written estimate sets the delivery window. Read how an interstate move works with a Bekins agent for the full sequence.

If your Milwaukee address is not ready, goods can wait in vault storage in our Sparks warehouse, from $40 per month, and ship on about 2 to 3 weeks of notice.