City comparison
No. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The income gap between Milwaukee and Colorado Springs is significant: $54,234 median household versus $84,818. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs 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
Milwaukee and Colorado Springs are 928 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $589 a month (56%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $30,584 (56%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 66 points (25%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Milwaukee are 928 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $589 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $30,584 (36%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 266 in Milwaukee, up 66 points (33%).
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Milwaukee and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 36% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Milwaukee is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $589/month back in your pocket ($7,068/year). Over five years that's $35,340 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 Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
56% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 56% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 56% higher in Colorado Springs (about $30,584 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, Colorado Springs 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
25% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 25% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Colorado Springs. 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, Colorado Springs 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
18% more comfortable
Colorado Springs weather is 18% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
51°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 61/100
Colorado Springs
Winner55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Milwaukee averages about 51°F (57°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs scores 18% 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
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 36% 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.
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 56% higher ($84,818), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 55°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than Milwaukee (200 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 Colorado Springs by $589/month ($1,059 vs $1,648). I would not pick Colorado Springs on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Milwaukee and 39/100 in Colorado Springs.
Milwaukee is the default on housing cost at $1,059/month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs; Colorado Springs stays in play when $84,818 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $589 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Milwaukee and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in WI and CO.
