Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 14 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Palm Bay
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$62,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
121,513
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $68k less ($157,800 vs $226,200)
Rent averages $363/mo less ($982 vs $1,345)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Bay
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Palm Bay by $12,805/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
76% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $12,805 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 30°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,345/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Milwaukee
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 100.8 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$68k less
$157,800 vs $226,200
Palm Bay
Median Income
$12,805
$62,538 vs $49,733/yr
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
76% lower
347.2 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 100.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $226,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,345⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $62,538 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 121,513 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 14 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 9 and Palm Bay wins 14. 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 Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $226,200 median home), income ($49,733 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Palm Bay, FL are about 1,120 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.