City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
The income gap between Milwaukee and Raleigh is significant: $54,234 median household versus $85,395. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh are 704 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $513 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $31,161 (57%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 142 in Raleigh, down 124 points (47%).
The move
Raleigh and Milwaukee are 704 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $513 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $31,161 (36%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 266 in Milwaukee, up 124 points (87%).
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Milwaukee and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
33% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 33% cheaper than Raleigh
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Milwaukee is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $513/month back in your pocket ($6,156/year). Over five years that's $30,780 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 Raleigh, 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 Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
57% higher
Raleigh's median income is 57% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Raleigh (about $31,161 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, Raleigh 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
47% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 47% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
19% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 19% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh averages around 60°F. Raleigh scores 19% 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 33% 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 57% higher ($85,395), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 47% lower than Milwaukee (142 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 49/100 in Raleigh). That 19-point spread matters more than the $513 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Raleigh still pays more locally ($85,395 median income vs $54,234), which can offset the lease if your field pays Raleigh rates.
Median income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $54,234 in Milwaukee.
Pick Raleigh when you want the stronger safety signal (49/100). Otherwise, Milwaukee's case rests on a Milwaukee ZIP you trust at $1,059 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Raleigh?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Raleigh when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Milwaukee and Raleigh, plus other cities in WI and NC.
