Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
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 1.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Homes cost $29k less ($157,800 vs $186,500)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 26.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Yuma by $9,579/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Yuma
Yuma, AZ
Pros
70% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 30°F
Households earn $9,579 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Milwaukee
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.9%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$29k less
$157,800 vs $186,500
Milwaukee
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Income
$9,579
$59,312 vs $49,733/yr
Yuma
Violent Crime
70% lower
423.6 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Yuma
Summer Heat
23.9°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $186,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,028 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 32.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 14 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 9 and Yuma 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $186,500 median home), income ($49,733 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Yuma, AZ are about 1,613 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.