City comparison
Yes. Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 375 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Milwaukee and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,251 in New Orleans.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Milwaukee and New Orleans. Milwaukee averages 55°F while New Orleans averages 68°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,059 versus $1,251.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Milwaukee costs less and New Orleans pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Milwaukee has rougher pockets and New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Milwaukee and New Orleans are 912 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, up $192 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $56,631 in New Orleans, up $2,397 (4%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 350 in New Orleans, up 84 points (32%).
The move
New Orleans and Milwaukee are 912 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $192 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $2,397 (4%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 266 in Milwaukee, down 84 points (24%).
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Milwaukee and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 15% cheaper than New Orleans
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
New Orleans
$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,251 in New Orleans, so Milwaukee is 15% 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 $2,304, 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 New Orleans.
Planning to buy in Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
New Orleans's median income is 4% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
New Orleans
Winner$56,631
Median household income is $56,631 in New Orleans versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 4% higher in New Orleans (about $2,397 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
24% lower crime
Milwaukee's crime index is 24% lower than New Orleans
Milwaukee
Winner266 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% 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. New Orleans can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 39% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
New Orleans
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); New Orleans averages about 68°F (76°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. New Orleans sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. New Orleans 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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% 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.
Milwaukee is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 24% lower than New Orleans (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 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 4% higher ($56,631), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
On weather alone, New Orleans is the warmer market (68°F) and Milwaukee the cooler (55°F). Typical leases run $1,251 and $1,059; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
With only $192 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,251 in New Orleans.
New Orleans wins on climate (68°F vs 55°F); Milwaukee is the better fit if $1,059 rent and $54,234 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Milwaukee when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Milwaukee and New Orleans, plus other cities in WI and LA.
