Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley 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 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($157,800 vs $307,700)
Rent averages $193/mo less ($982 vs $1,175)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Cons
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $16,750/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
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $16,750 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Milwaukee
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$150k less
$157,800 vs $307,700
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$16,750
$66,483 vs $49,733/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
83% lower
242.1 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 9 and Spokane Valley 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $307,700 median home), income ($49,733 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.