Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh 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
Raleigh
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($157,800 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $389/mo less ($982 vs $1,371)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $28,898/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 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $28,898 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Milwaukee
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$189k less
$157,800 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$28,898
$78,631 vs $49,733/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
66% lower
488.8 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.9% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 465,517 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 8 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $347,000 median home), income ($49,733 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Raleigh, NC are about 704 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.