Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
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.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $59,535 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 30°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Milwaukee
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $236k less ($157,800 vs $393,700)
Rent averages $926/mo less ($982 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $59,535/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
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$59,535
$109,268 vs $49,733/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$236k less
$157,800 vs $393,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 12 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 Germantown to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $157,800 median home), income ($109,268 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Milwaukee, WI are about 618 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.