A record number of Chicagoans are considering relocating to this hip midwestern town

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A recent Redfin report chronicles the beginning of America's Great Migration, whereby population density slowly shifts from larger urban centers into smaller cities and towns. With an increasing number of jobs going remote, many knowledge workers are suddenly experiencing a freedom they've never had previously - the ability to live hours away from their employer.

This freedom, along with the rising cost of living and increasing mortgage rates, has led many to wonder if they would be better off in a smaller, more affordable city.

Chicago residents are the fifth most likely to be considering a change of address, behind only those cities with the highest real estate prices in the country (San Francisco, Los Angeles, and NYC) as well as Washington DC.

In fact, almost one-in-five (17%) of Chicagoans who search real estate on Redfin are looking outside the city.

Where are Chicagoans considering going?

What town is the most popular potential destination for Chicagoans? It's a mid-sized midwestern town known to insiders as a hidden gem - Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Why Milwaukee? Well, the first advantage is proximity. At less than two hours drive, living in Milwaukee will make it easy for transplants to return to The Windy City to maintain personal connections and fulfill professional responsibilities.

This is consistent with others searching for a new place to call home - Los Angelenos, for example, are considering Las Vegas while Bostonians are looking at Portland, Maine.

Another compelling reason - Milwaukee has a lot going on for a city of 570,000. The area boasts impressive architecture, serious foodie opportunities, galleries, and a thriving nightlife scene. Plus with an abundance of lakefront and beachfront, the city feels a little like a coastal town even though it's firmly inland.

But one of the biggest draws is the lower cost of living - a significant financial advantage if you can work from anywhere. The median home price in Milwaukee, for example, is $175,000. In Chicago, it's almost double that at $330,000.

Over the next ten years, the American landscape may shift substantially as large cities get smaller and smaller towns expand. This will likely mean a lot of change is in store for small but desirable cities like Milwaukee.