Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 15 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
479,612
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.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Households earn $29,293 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Milwaukee
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 30°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,000
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $225k less ($157,800 vs $383,000)
Rent averages $482/mo less ($982 vs $1,464)
Cons
Median income trails Colorado Springs by $29,293/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
Colorado Springs
Median Income
$29,293
$79,026 vs $49,733/yr
Colorado Springs
Violent Crime
50% lower
715.6 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$225k less
$157,800 vs $383,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 33.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 39.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 15 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $157,800 median home), income ($79,026 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Milwaukee, WI are about 921 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.