City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where Milwaukee and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 167 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 $1,619 in Irving.
Irving 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 Irving 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 Irving are 860 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $560 a month (53%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $81,830 in Irving, up $27,596 (51%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 99 in Irving, down 167 points (63%).
The move
Irving and Milwaukee are 860 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $560 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $27,596 (34%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 266 in Milwaukee, up 167 points (169%).
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Milwaukee and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 35% cheaper than Irving
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,619 in Irving, so Milwaukee is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $560/month back in your pocket ($6,720/year). Over five years that's $33,600 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 Irving, 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 Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
51% higher
Irving's median income is 51% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 51% higher in Irving (about $27,596 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, Irving 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
63% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 63% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% lower in Irving. 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, Irving 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
39% more comfortable
Irving weather is 39% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Irving sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving 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
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 35% 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 51% higher ($81,830), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 70°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 63% lower than Milwaukee (99 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 60/100 in Irving). That 30-point spread matters more than the $560 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Irving still pays more locally ($81,830 median income vs $54,234), which can offset the lease if your field pays Irving rates.
Median income is $81,830 in Irving versus $54,234 in Milwaukee.
If safety drives your move, Irving is the stronger match (60/100 safety versus 30/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Milwaukee, treat $1,059/month rent and $54,234 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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