Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Evansville leads 17 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,906
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.
Evansville, IN
Pros
16% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Homes cost $37k less ($121,100 vs $157,800)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 30°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Milwaukee
Cons
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
More college-educated — 26.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°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 6% higher than Evansville
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Violent Crime
16% lower
1206.2 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Evansville
Median Home Value
$37k less
$121,100 vs $157,800
Evansville
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $157,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $982 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 26.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Evansville leads 17 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 17 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 Evansville to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $157,800 median home), income ($49,853 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Milwaukee, WI are about 351 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.