Freelance writer Carol Vinzant lives in New York City but writes regularly on financial and real estate issues that affect cities. Her latest, on AOL's money & finance page, is titled, "The Worst Places to Live ... Or Are They?"

Milwaukee makes her list of 12 cities and areas. A list that also includes her hometown, New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, East St. Louis and others.

She writes, "We decided to take a closer look at the places that are always showing up on the worst-places-to-live lists and give them their say. We look at the complaints, but also assess why so many people stay and others continue to move there."

For the Milwaukee portion, Vinzant talked to Visit Milwaukee / playinthecity blogger Karen Cinpinski. Cinpinski defending Milwaukee well, saying, "The stereotype of Milwaukee culture is beer, brats and cheese and many cheese heads eagerly embrace the image. But that's not all there is to life here on Lake Michigan."

She also told Vinzant, "Compared to big cities like neighboring Chicago, Milwaukee is much more affordable, with a one bedroom apartment costing about $500/month, she says. More than that, the city has original gems that might have been pushed aside in a bigger city. The eclectic Third Ward is leading a renaissance."

Read the entire AOL post, including more thoughts on Milwaukee, at the link below.