City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,171 in Huntsville.
Safety is where Milwaukee and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 132 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 $1,171 in Huntsville.
Huntsville 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 Huntsville is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Huntsville has rougher pockets and Milwaukee has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Milwaukee and Huntsville are 578 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, up $112 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $20,480 (38%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 134 in Huntsville, down 132 points (50%).
The move
Huntsville and Milwaukee are 578 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $112 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $20,480 (27%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 266 in Milwaukee, up 132 points (99%).
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Huntsville, AL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Milwaukee and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 10% cheaper than Huntsville
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Huntsville
$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,171 in Huntsville, 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 $1,344, 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 Huntsville.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
38% higher
Huntsville's median income is 38% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Huntsville (about $20,480 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, Huntsville 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
50% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 50% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% lower in Huntsville. 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, Huntsville 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
31% more comfortable
Huntsville weather is 31% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Huntsville
Winner63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Huntsville scores 31% 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 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.
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 38% higher ($74,714), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 63°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Huntsville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 50% lower than Milwaukee (134 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 carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 51/100 in Huntsville). That 21-point spread matters more than the $112 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below Huntsville's $1,171, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Milwaukee and 63°F in Huntsville.
Huntsville clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Milwaukee deserves a serious look only 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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