Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Atlanta leads 15 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
494,838
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $27,922 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Milwaukee
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 30°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $238k less ($157,800 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $530/mo less ($982 vs $1,512)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Median income trails Atlanta by $27,922/yr
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$27,922
$77,655 vs $49,733/yr
Atlanta
Violent Crime
41% lower
840.6 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Atlanta
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$238k less
$157,800 vs $395,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 15 of 23 categories. Atlanta 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 Atlanta to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $157,800 median home), income ($77,655 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Milwaukee, WI are about 670 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.