Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Denton leads 15 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
86% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $22,188 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($157,800 vs $296,100)
Rent averages $282/mo less ($982 vs $1,264)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Cons
Median income trails Denton by $22,188/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
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Median Income
$22,188
$71,921 vs $49,733/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
86% lower
204.2 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Denton
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$138k less
$157,800 vs $296,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 31.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 15 of 23 categories. Denton 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 Denton to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $157,800 median home), income ($71,921 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Milwaukee, WI are about 842 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.