Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 Orlando leads 12 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Orlando
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,738
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($157,800 vs $332,700)
Rent averages $527/mo less ($982 vs $1,509)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Orlando
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orlando by $16,559/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.2%)
Orlando, FL
Pros
42% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $16,559 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$175k less
$157,800 vs $332,700
Orlando
Median Income
$16,559
$66,292 vs $49,733/yr
Orlando
Violent Crime
42% lower
835.8 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Orlando
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Orlando
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 101.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $332,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,509⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $66,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 209⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 307,738 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orlando leads 12 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 11 and Orlando wins 12. 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $332,700 median home), income ($49,733 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Orlando, FL are about 1,079 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.