Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($157,800 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $632/mo less ($982 vs $1,614)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $14,311/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
60% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $14,311 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Milwaukee
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$167k less
$157,800 vs $324,800
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$14,311
$64,044 vs $49,733/yr
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
60% lower
575.8 vs 1430.9 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 8 and West Palm Beach wins 15. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $324,800 median home), income ($49,733 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,210 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.