Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Yonkers leads 12 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Yonkers
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $299k less ($157,800 vs $456,500)
Rent averages $677/mo less ($982 vs $1,659)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Yonkers
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Yonkers by $28,475/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
Yonkers, NY
Pros
78% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $28,475 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,500
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Milwaukee
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$299k less
$157,800 vs $456,500
Milwaukee
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Yonkers
Median Income
$28,475
$78,208 vs $49,733/yr
Yonkers
Violent Crime
78% lower
311.8 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $78,208 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 39.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 32.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 209,780 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yonkers leads 12 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 11 and Yonkers wins 12. 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $456,500 median home), income ($49,733 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Yonkers, NY are about 738 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.