Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Midland leads 15 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $40,715 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 30°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($157,800 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $418/mo less ($982 vs $1,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $40,715/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 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$40,715
$90,448 vs $49,733/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
74% lower
364.9 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$123k less
$157,800 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 9.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 33.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 31.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 25.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Midland is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 15 of 23 categories. Midland 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 Midland to Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $157,800 median home), income ($90,448 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Milwaukee, WI are about 1,084 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.