Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 15 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
Median Household Income
$49,733 ✓ Higher
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Milwaukee
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($157,800 vs $242,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
72% lower
406.1 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Median Income
$1,935
$49,733 vs $47,798/yr
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$85k less
$157,800 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $49,733 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 31.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 41.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 15 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 15 and Milwaukee wins 8. 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 Athens-Clarke County to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $157,800 median home), income ($47,798 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Milwaukee, WI are about 677 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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