City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Austin and Milwaukee is significant: $93,658 median household versus $54,234. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,059 in Milwaukee.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Milwaukee makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Milwaukee at $1,059 average has pockets that run $859 and others at $1,459: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Milwaukee are 1,036 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $670 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $39,424 (42%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 266 in Milwaukee, up 104 points (64%).
The move
Milwaukee and Austin are 1,036 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $670 a month (63%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $93,658 in Austin, up $39,424 (73%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 162 in Austin, down 104 points (39%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 39% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,729 in Austin, so Milwaukee is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $670/month back in your pocket ($8,040/year). Over five years that's $40,200 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Milwaukee is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
73% higher
Austin's median income is 73% higher than Milwaukee
Austin
Winner$93,658
Milwaukee
$54,234
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 73% higher in Austin (about $39,424 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Milwaukee can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
39% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 39% lower than Milwaukee
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Austin. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Austin is the easier city. Milwaukee can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Austin weather is 33% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Austin
Winner76°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Milwaukee
56°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 75/100
Austin averages about 76°F (85°F highs); Milwaukee averages about 56°F (61°F highs). Austin sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Milwaukee averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin scores 33% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Milwaukee if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 73% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Milwaukee (162 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% cheaper here at about $1,059 a month. Choose Milwaukee if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Milwaukee is cheaper on rent ($1,059/month vs $1,729), but Austin's $93,658 median income beats Milwaukee's $54,234 by 42%. Remote workers paid on Austin scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
Austin still pays more locally ($93,658 median income vs $54,234), which can offset the lease if your field pays Austin rates.
Safety scores read 45/100 in Austin and 30/100 in Milwaukee.
Austin leads on local pay ($93,658 median income vs $54,234), even though rent runs $1,729 versus $1,059 — skip Austin only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Milwaukee, plus other cities in TX and WI.
