Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento 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
Sacramento
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $293k less ($157,800 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $610/mo less ($982 vs $1,592)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $29,221/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
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,221 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Milwaukee
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$293k less
$157,800 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Median Income
$29,221
$78,954 vs $49,733/yr
Sacramento
Violent Crime
47% lower
754.9 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Sacramento
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 523,600 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 15 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 8 and Sacramento 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $450,500 median home), income ($49,733 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Sacramento, CA are about 1,767 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.