Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
Median Household Income
$49,733 ✓ Higher
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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
48% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Milwaukee
Cons
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $26k less ($157,800 vs $184,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
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 4.8%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Violent Crime
48% lower
740.3 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Knoxville
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Median Income
$1,424
$49,733 vs $48,309/yr
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$26k less
$157,800 vs $184,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $49,733 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 14 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 Knoxville to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $157,800 median home), income ($48,309 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Milwaukee, WI are about 535 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.