By Sandra Ranck Real Estate Collective
The first thing our relocating clients tend to notice about Howard is that it doesn't feel like a suburb of anything. It has its own quarry beach, a village-owned golf course, the western end of a state trail, and more than three miles of bay shoreline. Plus, because the village line runs right up against the City of Green Bay, none of that costs you a commute. Howard has grown into the third largest community in Brown County, and we don't think that’s a coincidence.
Key Takeaways
- Howard is Brown County's third largest community, behind only the City of Green Bay and the City of De Pere.
- The village borders Green Bay, Hobart, and Suamico, with direct access to bay shoreline.
- Recreation is unusually strong for a village this size, from Duck Creek Quarry to Howard Commons.
- Most buyers relocating here weigh Howard against Suamico and Hobart.
Where Is Howard and What's Around It?
Howard sits immediately northwest of the City of Green Bay, sharing borders with the Village of Suamico, the Village of Hobart, and the city itself, and it fronts the bay with more than three miles of shoreline. That combination is rarer than it sounds, because most communities that feel this separate from Green Bay have given something up to get there.
The practical argument for the village comes down to that geography. You're in a municipality with its own government, parks, and services, but you haven't traded away access to anything in the metro, which is the compromise most relocating buyers assume they'll be forced into.
The practical argument for the village comes down to that geography. You're in a municipality with its own government, parks, and services, but you haven't traded away access to anything in the metro, which is the compromise most relocating buyers assume they'll be forced into.
What the Location Gets You
- Commutes measured in minutes rather than highway stretches, since the village line and the city line actually touch.
- Frontage on the bay, which most of the communities buyers weigh against Howard simply don't have.
- A clean run north when you want Door County for the weekend.
What's There to Do in Howard?
Considerably more than a village of 22,000 usually supports, and that's what surprises people on a first visit. The Village of Howard has spent years investing in recreation, and the range of what sits inside village limits reflects that plainly enough.
Howard Commons is the clearest example, and it's where we take people first. Suburbs this size rarely have a real gathering place, and since it opened in 2023, this one has quietly become the village's.
Howard Commons is the clearest example, and it's where we take people first. Suburbs this size rarely have a real gathering place, and since it opened in 2023, this one has quietly become the village's.
Recreation Worth Knowing About
- Howard Commons Activity Complex — an amphitheater, a multi-season rink, a splash pad, and a biergarten on one site.
- Duck Creek Quarry — a summer swimming beach reserved for Howard residents and their wristbanded guests, which is a real argument for living inside the village rather than beside it.
- Village Green Golf Course — nine holes, municipally owned, so playing regularly doesn't require a club membership.
- Mountain-Bay State Trail — its western terminus sits at Howard Memorial Park, where you'll also find paddling access to Duck Creek.
What Kind of Housing Does Howard Have?
A wider range than most of its neighbors, which is a good part of why the village keeps growing. Howard has added substantial new construction over the last two decades while holding onto older stock nearer the Green Bay line, so buyers aren't boxed into a single era or price band the way they are in newer communities.
We see a lot of move-up buyers in particular. People land somewhere in the metro, spend a few years working out where they actually want to be, and then call us about Howard once they're ready for more space.
We see a lot of move-up buyers in particular. People land somewhere in the metro, spend a few years working out where they actually want to be, and then call us about Howard once they're ready for more space.
What Buyers Tend to Find
- Newer subdivisions with larger lots toward the northern and western edges, where most recent building has happened.
- More established streets nearer the Green Bay line, generally at lower price points.
- A growing executive-tier segment competing directly with Suamico for the same buyers.
- Limited bay-frontage opportunities that trade rarely and hold their value accordingly.
What Should You Know Before Relocating to Howard?
You should know that Howard and its neighbors look interchangeable from a distance and feel quite different once you're standing in them. We spend a fair amount of time helping relocating buyers sort out Howard versus Suamico, and the answer usually lands on lot size and how new you want the house to be.
Timing is the other thing worth planning around, because inventory in the stronger Howard neighborhoods doesn't sit for long. Buyers arriving from out of state are often caught out by how quickly the better listings move, and that's a difficult lesson to absorb during a two-day house-hunting trip.
Timing is the other thing worth planning around, because inventory in the stronger Howard neighborhoods doesn't sit for long. Buyers arriving from out of state are often caught out by how quickly the better listings move, and that's a difficult lesson to absorb during a two-day house-hunting trip.
Practical Advice for Relocating Buyers
- Let us tour Howard, Suamico, and Hobart with you on one trip, so you're comparing them directly rather than from memory.
- Decide early whether you want new construction or an established street, because the two sit in different parts of the village.
- Get pre-approved before you travel, since the better listings won't wait while you sort out financing.
- Spend an evening at Howard Commons if you can. It tells you more about the community than anything we could.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Howard, Wisconsin?
The village counted 19,950 residents at the 2020 census, and state estimates now put it above 22,000, which makes it Brown County's third largest community.
Is Howard a good place to buy if you work in Green Bay?
For most of our clients, yes. Howard is contiguous with the city, so commutes stay short, and you're still in a separate village with its own parks and services.
How does Howard compare to Suamico?
They're close competitors, and plenty of our clients look seriously at both. Suamico tends toward larger lots and a more rural feel, while Howard offers more amenities inside village limits.
Reach Out to Sandra Ranck Real Estate Collective Today
Relocating means making a lot of decisions at once on a compressed schedule, and most of them get easier when someone who works this market every week is doing the legwork alongside you. We've been selling in Brown County for decades, and Howard is one of the areas we know street by street.
If you're weighing a move, reach out to us at Sandra Ranck Real Estate Collective, and we'll help you work out whether Howard fits. You can also browse current listings to get a feel for the market before you visit.
If you're weighing a move, reach out to us at Sandra Ranck Real Estate Collective, and we'll help you work out whether Howard fits. You can also browse current listings to get a feel for the market before you visit.
