Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Livonia, MI
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Livonia leads 17 of 23 categories
Livonia
Michigan
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
6
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.
Livonia, MI
Pros
Households earn $42,725 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($157,800 vs $249,000)
Rent averages $253/mo less ($982 vs $1,235)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Livonia
Cons
Median income trails Livonia by $42,725/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Livonia
Median Income
$42,725
$92,458 vs $49,733/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
84% lower
228.1 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Livonia
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$91k less
$157,800 vs $249,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Livonia, MI | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $249,000 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,458 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.3% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Livonia Public Schools School District | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.0" ✓ Drier | 33.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,928 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.2 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Livonia's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 17 of 23 categories. Livonia wins 17 and Milwaukee wins 6. 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 Livonia to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($249,000 vs $157,800 median home), income ($92,458 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Livonia, MI and Milwaukee, WI are about 238 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.