Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Pasadena 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
Pasadena
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
150,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Rent averages $177/mo less ($982 vs $1,159)
More college-educated — 26.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pasadena by $14,965/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pasadena, TX
Pros
60% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $14,965 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 30°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.9%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Milwaukee
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$14k less
$157,800 vs $171,600
Milwaukee
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Income
$14,965
$64,698 vs $49,733/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
60% lower
566.1 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Pasadena
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $171,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,159 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $64,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 150,620 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 12 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 11 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $171,600 median home), income ($49,733 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Pasadena, TX are about 1,008 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.