Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Baton Rouge leads 15 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
225,500
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
8
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.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Milwaukee
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.9%)
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $60k less ($157,800 vs $217,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°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 5% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Violent Crime
28% lower
1027.7 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$60k less
$157,800 vs $217,700
Milwaukee
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baton Rouge leads 15 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge 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 Baton Rouge to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $157,800 median home), income ($50,155 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Milwaukee, WI are about 889 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.