City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
The income gap between Milwaukee and Durham is significant: $54,234 median household versus $81,619. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,508 in Durham.
Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham are 683 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $449 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $81,619 in Durham, up $27,385 (50%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 193 in Durham, down 73 points (27%).
The move
Durham and Milwaukee are 683 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $449 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $27,385 (34%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 266 in Milwaukee, up 73 points (38%).
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Milwaukee and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 30% cheaper than Durham
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,508 in Durham, so Milwaukee is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $449/month back in your pocket ($5,388/year). Over five years that's $26,940 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 Durham, 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 Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
50% higher
Durham's median income is 50% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 50% higher in Durham (about $27,385 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, Durham 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
27% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 27% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% lower in Durham. 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, Durham 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
15% more comfortable
Durham weather is 15% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham scores 15% 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 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.
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 50% higher ($81,619), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 27% lower than Milwaukee (193 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
Milwaukee is cheaper on rent ($1,059/month vs $1,508), but Durham's $81,619 median income beats Milwaukee's $54,234 by 34%. Remote workers paid on Durham scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
Durham still pays more locally ($81,619 median income vs $54,234), which can offset the lease if your field pays Durham rates.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Milwaukee and 40/100 in Durham.
Between Milwaukee and Durham, Durham is ahead on local pay — $81,619 median income against $54,234. Lean Milwaukee instead when keeping rent near $1,059/month beats chasing $81,619 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Durham when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
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