Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 17 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $571k less ($157,800 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $1082/mo less ($982 vs $2,064)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $49,680/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 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,680 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 30°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Milwaukee
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$571k less
$157,800 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Median Income
$49,680
$99,413 vs $49,733/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
84% lower
222.4 vs 1430.9 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
San Marcos
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 17 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 6 and San Marcos wins 17. 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 Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $728,800 median home), income ($49,733 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and San Marcos, CA are about 1,718 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.