Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 15 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $690k less ($157,800 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $1166/mo less ($982 vs $2,148)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $59,602/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 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $59,602 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Milwaukee
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$690k less
$157,800 vs $848,200
Orange
Median Income
$59,602
$109,335 vs $49,733/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
84% lower
226.1 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 15 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 8 and Orange wins 15. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $848,200 median home), income ($49,733 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Orange, CA are about 1,729 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.