Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Des Moines leads 16 of 22 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
6
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $12,645 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Milwaukee
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Des Moines by $12,645/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Des Moines
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Income
$12,645
$62,378 vs $49,733/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
51% lower
703.0 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$13k less
$157,800 vs $170,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 16 of 22 categories. Des Moines wins 16 and Milwaukee wins 6. 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 Des Moines to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $157,800 median home), income ($62,378 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Milwaukee, WI are about 306 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.