Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Lakeland leads 14 of 23 categories
Lakeland
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,290 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
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.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
96% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 30°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,557 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $50k less ($157,800 vs $207,800)
Rent averages $235/mo less ($982 vs $1,217)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakeland
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakeland by $8,557/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakeland
Median Income
$8,557
$58,290 vs $49,733/yr
Lakeland
Violent Crime
96% lower
56.0 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Lakeland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Lakeland
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$50k less
$157,800 vs $207,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 14 of 23 categories. Lakeland 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 Lakeland to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $157,800 median home), income ($58,290 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and Milwaukee, WI are about 1,090 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.