City comparison
No. Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 375 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,331 in Baltimore.
Safety is where Baltimore and Milwaukee split most clearly. Milwaukee scores 72 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,059 in Milwaukee.
This is a genuine split. Baltimore wins on the job market and Milwaukee wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Baltimore and Milwaukee are 641 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $272 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $7,943 (13%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 266 in Milwaukee, down 72 points (21%).
The move
Milwaukee and Baltimore are 641 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, up $272 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $62,177 in Baltimore, up $7,943 (15%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 338 in Baltimore, up 72 points (27%).
Baltimore, MD
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 Baltimore and Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 20% cheaper than Baltimore
Baltimore
$1,331/mo
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,331 in Baltimore, so Milwaukee is 20% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,264, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Milwaukee still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Baltimore.
Planning to buy in Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Baltimore's median income is 15% higher than Milwaukee
Baltimore
Winner$62,177
Milwaukee
$54,234
Median household income is $62,177 in Baltimore versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Baltimore (about $7,943 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, Baltimore 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
21% lower crime
Milwaukee's crime index is 21% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee
Winner266 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Milwaukee. 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, Milwaukee is the easier city. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Baltimore and Milwaukee are about even on typical weather.
Baltimore
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Baltimore is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($62,177). Start with Baltimore if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% 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.
Milwaukee is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Baltimore (266 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.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Milwaukee scores 30/100 versus 23/100 in Baltimore. Rent is $1,059/month in Milwaukee and $1,331/month in Baltimore, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Baltimore still pays more locally ($62,177 median income vs $54,234), which can offset the lease if your field pays Baltimore rates.
Median income is $62,177 in Baltimore versus $54,234 in Milwaukee.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Milwaukee; Baltimore only makes sense when you have walked the Baltimore ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,331 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Milwaukee when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Baltimore and Milwaukee, plus other cities in MD and WI.
