Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks 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
Sparks
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $266k less ($157,800 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $544/mo less ($982 vs $1,526)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $33,205/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
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $33,205 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Milwaukee
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$266k less
$157,800 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$33,205
$82,938 vs $49,733/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
72% lower
394.4 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Sparks
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 13 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 10 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $423,500 median home), income ($49,733 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Sparks, NV are about 1,655 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.