Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McKinney, TX
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 McKinney leads 16 of 23 categories
McKinney
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
7
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.
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $63,553 more per year on average
92% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $243k less ($157,800 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $758/mo less ($982 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $63,553/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 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Median Income
$63,553
$113,286 vs $49,733/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
92% lower
117.3 vs 1430.9 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$243k less
$157,800 vs $400,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McKinney, TX | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $400,400⚠ High | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,740⚠ High | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,286 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCKINNEY ISD | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.4" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 196,160 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.9% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 25.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McKinney's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 16 of 23 categories. McKinney wins 16 and Milwaukee wins 7. 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 McKinney to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($400,400 vs $157,800 median home), income ($113,286 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McKinney, TX and Milwaukee, WI are about 828 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.