Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 13 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $192k less ($157,800 vs $349,500)
Rent averages $242/mo less ($982 vs $1,224)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $17,807/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
Salem, OR
Pros
63% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $17,807 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Milwaukee
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$192k less
$157,800 vs $349,500
Salem
Median Income
$17,807
$67,540 vs $49,733/yr
Salem
Violent Crime
63% lower
532.2 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 13 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 10 and Salem wins 13. 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $349,500 median home), income ($49,733 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Salem, OR are about 1,734 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.