Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
9
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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
80% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $31,486 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Milwaukee
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $834k less ($157,800 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $1020/mo less ($982 vs $2,002)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $31,486/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
Glendale
Median Income
$31,486
$81,219 vs $49,733/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
80% lower
287.2 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Glendale
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.8°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$834k less
$157,800 vs $992,000
Milwaukee
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 33.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 41.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale'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, Glendale leads 14 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 14 and Milwaukee wins 9. 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 Glendale to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $157,800 median home), income ($81,219 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Milwaukee, WI are about 1,734 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.