Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Fullerton leads 15 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280
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.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,546 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $633k less ($157,800 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $1007/mo less ($982 vs $1,989)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $49,546/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$49,546
$99,279 vs $49,733/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
68% lower
455.3 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$633k less
$157,800 vs $791,000
Milwaukee
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 33.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 15 of 23 categories. Fullerton 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 Fullerton to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $157,800 median home), income ($99,279 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Milwaukee, WI are about 1,729 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.