Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia leads 16 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Visalia
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($157,800 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $307/mo less ($982 vs $1,289)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Visalia
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Visalia by $25,925/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
Visalia, CA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $25,925 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Milwaukee
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 101.3 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$159k less
$157,800 vs $316,600
Visalia
Median Income
$25,925
$75,658 vs $49,733/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
70% lower
435.3 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Visalia
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 101.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,289 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 101⚠ 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 | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 86.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 55.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Visalia leads 16 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 7 and Visalia wins 16. 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $316,600 median home), income ($49,733 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Visalia, CA are about 1,720 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.