General Mitchell Airport in Wisconsin (left) versus LaGuardia Airport in New York. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider ; Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
I moved from Wisconsin to New York over 10 years ago.
The Midwest continues to amaze me with the lowest prices, largest stores, and emptiest airports.
The friendliness, passion for soccer, and heavy Midwest accents also seem novel to me now.
The more I do without visiting the Midwest, the more novel I feel when I return.
Here are 10 aspects of life in the Midwest that surprise me a decade later moving to New York.
The airport I fly into in Wisconsin is much emptier than any New York travel hub.
General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
When I fly out of New York City, the airport is always packed, with long security lines and crowds at the gate. When I land at General Mitchell International Airport in my hometown of Milwaukee, the airport seems empty in comparison.
Compare to New YorkWith 8.8 million residents, Milwaukee's population of 577,000 means the city feels less crowded overall.
Midwestern accents are more pronounced than I remember.
Costco in Wisconsin, where it's pronounced “Cah-stco.” Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
When landing at the Milwaukee airport, I often hear locals talk about their baggage claim at baggage claim, pronounced “bay-gage requirement”. When referring to the retailer Costco, Wisconsin residents pronounce it “Cah-stco.”
I've lost my Midwestern accent after a decade of living in New York, but I still recognize it instantly when I visit home.
Plastic carrier bags are still available in the midwestern states.
A plastic shopping bag at Sendi's. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
New York banned plastic shopping bags in 2020 — one of several states to do so. I'm so used to bringing my own reusable bags to errands that I'm surprised to find plastic bags available at stores in Wisconsin.
The stores are much bigger outside of New York.
Target in Wisconsin. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
For example, my neighborhood in New York has a “small format” Target store designed specifically for urban areas with 25,000 square feet of space. By comparison, the Target in my hometown of Wisconsin spans 104,000 square feet, making it more than four times as large.
National retailers such as Costco carry local products that are not available elsewhere.
Cream cheese at Costco in Wisconsin. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
Most Costco stores stock the same items in locations around the world, but shoppers can also find occasional local specials. During my visit to Costco in my state, I spotted Wisconsin curds and coffee beans from a company based in Door County, which I have not seen sold in stores in New York or abroad.
Home to famous breweries like Miller and Pabst, Wisconsin takes beer seriously. At Piggly Wiggly, a grocery chain that caters largely to the South and Midwest, I've come across beer coolers with dozens of varieties to choose from. I've never seen a beer cooler in New York – most grocery stores there wouldn't have the space.
While many New York stores keep items in locked cases, I'm pleasantly surprised to be able to shop more freely in the Midwest.
Target in the Midwest (left) and New York. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
When I want to get a tube of toothpaste or a pint of ice cream at Target in New York, I have to wave my hand over a sensor to call an employee to unlock the item for me. At my local Target store in Wisconsin, even limited supply items like baby formula are not kept on secure shelves, which makes for a completely different shopping experience.
Prices for things like gas and milk are significantly lower in the Midwest.
Gas prices in the Midwest in November. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
At the gas pump and at the cash register, I am shocked at how much lower the prices are in the Midwest compared to New York.
When I visited Wisconsin in November, gas was $3.09 a gallon compared to $3.33 in New York. Groceries such as gallons of milk were also less expensive in the Midwest ($3.29 vs. $3.99).
Midwestern friendliness can feel like culture shock.
Hiking the Seven Bridges Trail. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
After a decade as a New Yorker, classic Midwestern gestures of friendliness like smiling at strangers and making small talk seem strange to me. In New York, even making eye contact with someone you don't know is considered a violation of city etiquette.
The culture shock makes me realize how constantly on guard I am as a resident of one of America's biggest cities, and to think how much I've changed since then away from the Midwest.
