Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Milwaukee leads 12 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($157,800 vs $236,500)
Rent averages $420/mo less ($982 vs $1,402)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.9%)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than New Haven
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
Median income trails New Haven by $4,572/yr
New Haven, CT
Pros
63% less violent crime than Milwaukee
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,572 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 30°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$79k less
$157,800 vs $236,500
Milwaukee
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.8% unemployment
New Haven
Median Income
$4,572
$54,305 vs $49,733/yr
New Haven
Violent Crime
63% lower
534.8 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $236,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $54,305 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 85.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 33.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 31.8 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Milwaukee leads 12 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 12 and New Haven wins 11. 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 Milwaukee to New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $236,500 median home), income ($49,733 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and New Haven, CT are about 778 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.