Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Milwaukee leads 14 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Newark
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($157,800 vs $312,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Rent averages $291/mo less ($982 vs $1,273)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Newark, NJ
Pros
59% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Milwaukee
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Income
$3,273
$49,733 vs $46,460/yr
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$155k less
$157,800 vs $312,300
Milwaukee
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Violent Crime
59% lower
581.2 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Newark
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 307,355 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Milwaukee leads 14 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 14 and Newark 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 Milwaukee to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $312,300 median home), income ($49,733 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Newark, NJ are about 727 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.