Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem 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
Orem
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $235k less ($157,800 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $308/mo less ($982 vs $1,290)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $27,835/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 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
88% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $27,835 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$235k less
$157,800 vs $392,900
Orem
Median Income
$27,835
$77,568 vs $49,733/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
88% lower
174.5 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 37.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 31.8 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 15 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 8 and Orem 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 Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $392,900 median home), income ($49,733 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Orem, UT are about 1,235 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.