City comparison
No. Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 375 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
The income gap between Denver and Milwaukee is significant: $94,718 median household versus $54,234. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,831 in Denver and $1,059 in Milwaukee.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Milwaukee costs less and Denver pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Denver and Milwaukee are 912 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $772 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $40,484 (43%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 266 in Milwaukee, down 5 points (2%).
The move
Milwaukee and Denver are 912 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $772 a month (73%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $94,718 in Denver, up $40,484 (75%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 271 in Denver, up 5 points (2%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
42% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 42% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,831 in Denver, so Milwaukee is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $772/month back in your pocket ($9,264/year). Over five years that's $46,320 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 Denver, 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 Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
75% higher
Denver's median income is 75% higher than Milwaukee
Denver
Winner$94,718
Milwaukee
$54,234
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 75% higher in Denver (about $40,484 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, Denver 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
2% lower crime
Milwaukee's crime index is 2% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee
Winner266 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 2% lower in Milwaukee. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Milwaukee, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Denver. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Denver weather is 28% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Denver
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Denver scores 28% 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 75% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 42% 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 2% lower than Denver (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
On rent alone, Milwaukee undercuts Denver by $772/month ($1,059 vs $1,831). I would not pick Denver on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below Denver's $1,831, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 62°F in Denver and 55°F in Milwaukee.
Between Denver and Milwaukee, Milwaukee is ahead on housing cost — $1,059/month rent against $1,831. Lean Denver instead when your $94,718 income offer in Denver outweighs saving $772/month in Milwaukee.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Milwaukee, plus other cities in CO and WI.
