Every state suffers from its share of stereotypes. How many of us don't think "cheese" every time "Green Bay" or "Wisconsin" is uddered ... I mean, uttered? This city of approximately 100,000 residents obviously has a sense of humor about its popular and successful Green Bay Packers NFL team. The "cheeseheads" who loyally cheer in the stands of every Packers game are among the sport's most die-hard fans. When NFL season ends, though, we hear little noise coming from Green Bay. But there's more here than you might think.

The nation's Midwest "city by the bay" was founded in 1634 by French explorer, Jean Nicolet. The United States annexed Green Bay in 1783. Throughout the 19th century, the city received an influx of immigrants as its local timber industry grew by leaps and bounds. When the land was cleared, loggers moved aside to make room for incoming land and dairy farmers. Today, the city's more diverse economy is supported in part by such corporate giants as Procter and Gamble.

According to Cynthia M. De Bauche, a broker/associate with the Giesler Group Inc. in Green Bay, buyers get a lot of home for the money here. The average median sales price in Green Bay is $107,300. Homes in the area, she adds, average about 110 days on the market and typically sell for 97 percent to 98 percent of their listed price.

Families who relocate to Green Bay are in for another suprise, as well: a winter sports-lover's paradise. Green Bay does indeed have frigid winters, but with those winters comes plenty of sports -- most notably, hockey and skiing. Cross-country enthusiasts will enjoy some of the best trails in Northeastern Wisconsin, right here in Green Bay. Among the area's downhill skiing trails are Bairds Creek Parkway, which offers free skiing; Bay Beach Wild Life Sanctuary, offering six miles of trails, and where skiing also is free; Green Isle Park; He-Nis-Ra, also free, and which caters to more advanced skiiers; Hilly Haven Ski Trail; Mountain Bay Trail, a former railroad track converted into a 93-mile trail; and Neshota Park. If you've never attempted skiing, a move to the Green Bay area certainly will inspire you to try.

While most of us instantly associate Wisconsin with its harsh winters (temperatures average a high of 23 degrees Fahrenheit in January, and a high of 29 degrees in December), residents actually enjoy a nice diversity of temperatures in Green Bay. During the summer months, temperatures rise to a comfortable mid-70s range, reaching an average high of 80 degrees in July, Green Bay's warmest month. So water sports and other outdoor activities are just as common as the region's winter sports.

And with this diversity in temperatures comes extraordinary natural beauty and a variety of terrain. Green Bay natives take advantage of the city's numerous parks to go hiking, snowmobiling, fishing, boating, golfing, or to just take a stroll and watch nature.

Green Bay's love of sports stems not only from its beloved Packers, but also from the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay, which makes for a fun college-town atmosphere and lively nightlife in the city.

But there's more to Green Bay than sports. The Green Bay Botanical Garden recently opened its doors. The garden sponsors the city's annual Garden Fair, "Garden Walk," and its holiday "Garden of Lights" showcase. Among the city's museums are the interactive Children's Museum of Green Bay and the National Railroad Museum. And although you may not think of Wisconsin when you think of wine, nearby Sturgeon Bay is home to the Door Peninsula Winery. The winery is open to visitors for tours and wine testing.

De Bauche says there are typically 2,000 residential properties on the market in Green Bay at any given time. And sure enough, a search of MLS listings in the area reveals very competitive prices. For some relocating families, in fact, Green Bay could very well sound like a bargain. An online search found many three- and four-bedroom homes within the low- to mid-$100,000 range. Many homes are large and rambling, with such classic touches as basements, hardwood floors and beamed ceilings.

Many who have either traveled to or resided in the Midwest tout its way of life -- the value system, friendly people, the mix of urban progress and vast countryside, a comparatively slower way of life. Add that to competitive home prices and a front-row seat for a spectacular change of seasons, and you've got the recipe for a real estate market likely to continue its upward swing.