Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Albuquerque leads 18 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
562,551
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
17% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $11,770 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($157,800 vs $246,000)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Albuquerque by $11,770/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Income
$11,770
$61,503 vs $49,733/yr
Albuquerque
Violent Crime
17% lower
1181.8 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$88k less
$157,800 vs $246,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 33.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 18 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 18 and Milwaukee wins 5. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $157,800 median home), income ($61,503 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Milwaukee, WI are about 1,139 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.