City comparison
St Paul is safer than Milwaukee. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,281 in St Paul.
Safety is where Milwaukee and St Paul split most clearly. St Paul scores 100 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 $1,281 in St Paul.
St Paul 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 St Paul 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 St Paul are 289 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,281 a month in St Paul, up $222 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $73,394 in St Paul, up $19,160 (35%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 166 in St Paul, down 100 points (38%).
The move
St Paul and Milwaukee are 289 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $222 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $19,160 (26%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 266 in Milwaukee, up 100 points (60%).
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Milwaukee and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 17% cheaper than St Paul
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
St Paul
$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,281 in St Paul, so Milwaukee is 17% 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 $2,664, 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 St Paul.
Planning to buy in St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
35% higher
St Paul's median income is 35% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 35% higher in St Paul (about $19,160 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, St Paul 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
38% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 38% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in St Paul. 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, St Paul 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
28% more comfortable
St Paul weather is 28% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
51°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 61/100
St Paul
Winner57°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 78/100
Milwaukee averages about 51°F (57°F highs); St Paul averages about 57°F (65°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Paul averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Paul scores 28% 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 17% 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 35% higher ($73,394), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 57°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
St Paul is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Milwaukee (166 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
Crime and safety tilt toward St Paul: St Paul scores 45/100 versus 30/100 in Milwaukee, with typical rent at $1,281 versus $1,059. I would vet the exact ZIP in Milwaukee before trading 15 safety points for housing savings.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below St Paul's $1,281, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,281 in St Paul.
St Paul 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
Open full neighborhood reports for Milwaukee and St Paul, plus other cities in WI and MN.
