Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 16 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Reno
Nevada
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $304k less ($157,800 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $378/mo less ($982 vs $1,360)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Reno by $23,340/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 5.0%)
Reno, NV
Pros
63% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $23,340 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Milwaukee
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$304k less
$157,800 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$23,340
$73,073 vs $49,733/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
63% lower
529.6 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 33.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 265,196 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 16 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 7 and Reno wins 16. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $462,100 median home), income ($49,733 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Reno, NV are about 1,662 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.