City comparison
No. Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 375 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,181 in Memphis.
Safety is where Memphis and Milwaukee split most clearly. Milwaukee scores 229 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis and $1,059 in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Memphis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Milwaukee is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Milwaukee has rougher pockets and Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and Milwaukee are 557 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $122 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $54,234 in Milwaukee, up $2,498 (5%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 266 in Milwaukee, down 229 points (46%).
The move
Milwaukee and Memphis are 557 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,181 a month in Memphis, up $122 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $51,736 in Memphis, down $2,498 (5%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 495 in Memphis, up 229 points (86%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 10% cheaper than Memphis
Memphis
$1,181/mo
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,181 in Memphis, so Milwaukee is 10% 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 $1,464, 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 Memphis.
Planning to buy in Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Milwaukee's median income is 5% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Milwaukee
Winner$54,234
Median household income is $54,234 in Milwaukee versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Milwaukee (about $2,498 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
46% lower crime
Milwaukee's crime index is 46% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee
Winner266 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 39% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°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. Memphis 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat Milwaukee on this page's weather index by 39%. Milwaukee may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($54,234). Start with Milwaukee if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Milwaukee is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 46% lower than Memphis (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
Memphis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (11/100 safety vs 30/100 in Milwaukee). That 19-point spread matters more than the $122 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (30/100 in Milwaukee vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,181 in Memphis.
If safety drives your move, Milwaukee is the stronger match (30/100 safety versus 11/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Memphis, treat $1,181/month rent and $51,736 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and Milwaukee, plus other cities in TN and WI.
