Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Milwaukee.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee, WI has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 67 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $172,000 and median rent about $1,033, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $51,888. Typical commute is 23 minutes; summer highs average 80°F. Violent-offense rates run about 1332.5 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 67U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $172,000U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,033U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $51,888U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.3%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 23 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 1332.5per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 80°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Milwaukee compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 563,531City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $51,888Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year34% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 67ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year33% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $172,000City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year43% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,033City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year23% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.3%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 23 min8% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 6238% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 1332.5annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)127% above U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 2554.8annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)17% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 80°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals7.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 20°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals14.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 34.6 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (33 in)U.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 240As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10% below U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Milwaukee declined 5.3% from 594,865 in 2010 to 563,531 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Milwaukee expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Milwaukee's housing cost index is 67 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($172,000 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,033 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 67 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $172,000 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,033 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Milwaukee?
Typical ownership costs center near $172,000, while median gross rent is about $1,033 a month. Against a median household income of $51,888, rent alone is roughly 24% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $172,000
- Median rent $1,033/month
- Median household income $51,888
What is the job market like in Milwaukee?
County unemployment recently ran 4.3% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Milwaukee is about $51,888 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.3% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $51,888
How long is the typical commute in Milwaukee?
Average one-way commute time is about 23 minutes, with Walk Score near 62/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 23 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 62/100
Is Milwaukee safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 1332.5 per 100k and property about 2554.8 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 1332.5 per 100k
- Property 2554.8 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Milwaukee?
Normals show summer highs near 80°F, winter lows near 20°F, about 34.6 inches of rain, and roughly 240 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 80°F
- Winter low 20°F
- 34.6 in rain · 240 sunny days
Milwaukee, Wisconsin counts about 563,531 residents inside the city limits. Median household income is roughly $51,888, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 67 — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs (100 ≈ U.S. average). Entry home prices around $172,000 still look attainable compared with coastal metros.
Milwaukee sits in that mid-to-large city band where urban and quieter residential pockets often share one municipal boundary. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Milwaukee with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Lake-effect cold and dairy/manufacturing employment still shape daily life. Winter lows around 20°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Plan on roughly 23 minutes each way for a typical commute; Walk Score is about 62. Unemployment recently ran near 4.3%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. FBI CDE violent-offense rates run comparatively high (~1332.5 per 100k annualized), so block-by-block due diligence is especially important.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Milwaukee city, 1600000US5553000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Milwaukee County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014839 MILWAUKEE MITCHELL AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10