City comparison
No. Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 213 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
The income gap between Milwaukee and Sacramento is significant: $54,234 median household versus $87,321. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,779 in Sacramento.
Sacramento 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 Sacramento 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 Sacramento are 1,771 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $720 a month (68%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $33,087 (61%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 181 in Sacramento, down 85 points (32%).
The move
Sacramento and Milwaukee are 1,771 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $720 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $33,087 (38%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 266 in Milwaukee, up 85 points (47%).
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Milwaukee and Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
40% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 40% cheaper than Sacramento
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Milwaukee is 40% cheaper. That's roughly $720/month back in your pocket ($8,640/year). Over five years that's $43,200 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 Sacramento, 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 Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
61% higher
Sacramento's median income is 61% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 61% higher in Sacramento (about $33,087 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, Sacramento 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
32% lower crime
Sacramento's crime index is 32% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Sacramento
Winner181 (100 = avg)
Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Sacramento. 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, Sacramento 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
Sacramento weather is 39% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Sacramento
Winner71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Sacramento sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Sacramento 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 40% 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 61% higher ($87,321), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Sacramento is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Milwaukee (181 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
Rent is the clearest fork: Milwaukee at $1,059/month versus $1,779 in Sacramento ($720 apart). Sacramento median income is $87,321 against $54,234 in Milwaukee, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below Sacramento's $1,779, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Milwaukee and 42/100 in Sacramento.
Pick Milwaukee when shaving $720 off rent at $1,059/month is the priority. Otherwise, Sacramento's case rests on $1,779/month rent with $87,321 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Sacramento when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Milwaukee and Sacramento, plus other cities in WI and CA.
