City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Milwaukee split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 131 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,059 in Milwaukee.
Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth 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
Fort Worth and Milwaukee are 877 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $450 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $25,273 (32%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 266 in Milwaukee, up 131 points (97%).
The move
Milwaukee and Fort Worth are 877 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $450 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $25,273 (47%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 135 in Fort Worth, down 131 points (49%).
Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth and Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 30% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Milwaukee is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $450/month back in your pocket ($5,400/year). Over five years that's $27,000 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 Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
47% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 47% higher than Milwaukee
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Milwaukee
$54,234
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 47% higher in Fort Worth (about $25,273 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, Fort Worth 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
49% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 49% lower than Milwaukee
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% lower in Fort Worth. 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, Fort Worth 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
Fort Worth weather is 33% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Fort Worth
Winner73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Milwaukee
56°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 75/100
Fort Worth averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Milwaukee averages about 56°F (61°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 73°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. Fort Worth 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 47% higher ($79,507), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fort Worth is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 49% lower than Milwaukee (135 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 30% 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
Safety is the widest gap: Fort Worth scores 51/100 versus 30/100 in Milwaukee. Rent is $1,509/month in Fort Worth and $1,059/month in Milwaukee, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Between Fort Worth and Milwaukee, Fort Worth is ahead on safety — 51/100 safety versus 30/100. Lean Milwaukee instead when you already know the Milwaukee block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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