City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Milwaukee and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 173 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 $1,701 in Tampa.
Tampa 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 Tampa 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 Tampa are 1,086 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $642 a month (61%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $75,475 in Tampa, up $21,241 (39%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 93 in Tampa, down 173 points (65%).
The move
Tampa and Milwaukee are 1,086 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $642 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $21,241 (28%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 266 in Milwaukee, up 173 points (186%).
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Milwaukee and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 38% cheaper than Tampa
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Milwaukee is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $642/month back in your pocket ($7,704/year). Over five years that's $38,520 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 Tampa, 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 Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
39% higher
Tampa's median income is 39% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Tampa
Winner$75,475
Median household income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 39% higher in Tampa (about $21,241 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, Tampa 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
65% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 65% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 65% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa 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
Tampa weather is 39% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Tampa
Winner75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tampa sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa 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 38% 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 39% higher ($75,475), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 75°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 65% lower than Milwaukee (93 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 62/100 in Tampa). That 32-point spread matters more than the $642 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Tampa still pays more locally ($75,475 median income vs $54,234), which can offset the lease if your field pays Tampa rates.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Milwaukee and 75°F in Tampa.
Tampa 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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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Milwaukee and Tampa, plus other cities in WI and FL.
