Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Milwaukee leads 13 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Homes cost $41k less ($157,800 vs $198,500)
More college-educated — 26.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
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
Springfield, MA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Milder winters — January highs near 35°F vs 30°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.9%)
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Income
$2,056
$49,733 vs $47,677/yr
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$41k less
$157,800 vs $198,500
Milwaukee
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Violent Crime
38% lower
891.4 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $198,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 235⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 34.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Milwaukee leads 13 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 13 and Springfield wins 10. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $198,500 median home), income ($49,733 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Springfield, MA are about 786 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.