Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 Kenosha leads 15 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Kenosha
Wisconsin
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.4%)
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($194,400 vs $321,800)
61% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Rent averages $148/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,227)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 98°F
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 83.8°F
Kenosha
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Median Income
$1,962
$64,963 vs $63,001/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
61% lower
285.7 vs 735.5 per 100k
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$127k less
$194,400 vs $321,800
Kenosha
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $194,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,079 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $64,963 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 31.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 36.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 99,493 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Kenosha is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 15 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 8 and Kenosha wins 15. 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 Fresno to Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $194,400 median home), income ($63,001 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Kenosha, WI are about 1,733 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.