City comparison
Yes. Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 375 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,060 in Cleveland.
Safety is where Milwaukee and Cleveland split most clearly. Milwaukee scores 75 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,060 in Cleveland.
Milwaukee is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cleveland 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 Cleveland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Milwaukee and Cleveland are 335 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, up $1 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $64,468 in Cleveland, up $10,234 (19%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 341 in Cleveland, up 75 points (28%).
The move
Cleveland and Milwaukee are 335 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $1 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $10,234 (16%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 266 in Milwaukee, down 75 points (22%).
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Milwaukee and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 1% cheaper than Cleveland
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Cleveland
$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,060 in Cleveland, so Milwaukee is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $1, or $12 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 Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
19% higher
Cleveland's median income is 19% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Cleveland
Winner$64,468
Median household income is $64,468 in Cleveland versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Cleveland (about $10,234 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, Cleveland 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
22% lower crime
Milwaukee's crime index is 22% lower than Cleveland
Milwaukee
Winner266 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% 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. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Milwaukee weather is 9% more comfortable than Cleveland
Milwaukee
Winner55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Cleveland averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Milwaukee scores 9% 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 Cleveland 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
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.
Pick Milwaukee if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (55°F) beat Cleveland on this page's weather index by 9%. Cleveland may pay more or cost less, but Milwaukee is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Milwaukee is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than Cleveland (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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Cleveland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 19% higher here ($64,468). Start with Cleveland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: Cleveland median income is $64,468 versus $54,234 in Milwaukee (16% higher). Rent still runs $1,060/month in Cleveland and $1,059/month in Milwaukee, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Cleveland rates.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Milwaukee and 53°F in Cleveland.
Pick Cleveland when your field pays toward $64,468 median income. Otherwise, Milwaukee's case rests on a $1,059 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Milwaukee and 23/100 in Cleveland.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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