Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 14 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299
San Francisco
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $1191k less ($157,800 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1334/mo less ($982 vs $2,316)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $86,956/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
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $86,956 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Milwaukee
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Milwaukee
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$1191k less
$157,800 vs $1,348,700
Milwaukee
Summer Heat
21.0°F warmer
July avg high 82.8°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$86,956
$136,689 vs $49,733/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
58% lower
596.5 vs 1430.9 per 100k
San Francisco
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 14 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 9 and San Francisco wins 14. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($49,733 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and San Francisco, CA are about 1,867 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.