City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,073 in El Paso.
Safety is where El Paso and Milwaukee split most clearly. El Paso scores 179 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $1,059 in Milwaukee.
El Paso 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 El Paso is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. El Paso has rougher pockets and Milwaukee has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
El Paso and Milwaukee are 1,279 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $14 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $5,511 (9%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 266 in Milwaukee, up 179 points (206%).
The move
Milwaukee and El Paso are 1,279 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,073 a month in El Paso, up $14 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $59,745 in El Paso, up $5,511 (10%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 87 in El Paso, down 179 points (67%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 1% cheaper than El Paso
El Paso
$1,073/mo
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,073 in El Paso, so Milwaukee is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $14, or $168 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
El Paso's median income is 10% higher than Milwaukee
El Paso
Winner$59,745
Milwaukee
$54,234
Median household income is $59,745 in El Paso versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 10% higher in El Paso (about $5,511 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
67% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 67% lower than Milwaukee
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso 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
39% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 39% more comfortable than Milwaukee
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. El Paso scores 39% 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 10% higher ($59,745), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 67% lower than Milwaukee (87 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 1% 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
Crime and safety tilt toward El Paso: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 30/100 in Milwaukee, with matched rent near $1,073/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Milwaukee before trading 34 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $59,745 in El Paso versus $54,234 in Milwaukee — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
El Paso clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Milwaukee deserves a serious look only when you already know the Milwaukee block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Weather averages land near 66°F in El Paso and 55°F in Milwaukee.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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