Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Kenosha leads 15 of 23 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
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.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
80% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $15,230 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $37k less ($157,800 vs $194,400)
Rent averages $97/mo less ($982 vs $1,079)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kenosha by $15,230/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Median Income
$15,230
$64,963 vs $49,733/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
80% lower
285.7 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Kenosha
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$37k less
$157,800 vs $194,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kenosha leads 15 of 23 categories. Kenosha 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 Kenosha to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $157,800 median home), income ($64,963 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Milwaukee, WI are about 33 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.