Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Elizabeth
New Jersey
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
11
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
71% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $10,206 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 30°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Milwaukee
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($157,800 vs $358,400)
Rent averages $408/mo less ($982 vs $1,390)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 26.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Elizabeth by $10,206/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Income
$10,206
$59,939 vs $49,733/yr
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
71% lower
408.7 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$201k less
$157,800 vs $358,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 26.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 41.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Elizabeth wins 11 and Milwaukee wins 11. 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 Elizabeth to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $157,800 median home), income ($59,939 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Milwaukee, WI are about 727 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.