City comparison
No. Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 279 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,059 in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee and Toledo are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,059 in Milwaukee and $934 in Toledo, and median household income lands at $54,234 versus $62,224. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Toledo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety 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 Toledo is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Milwaukee and Toledo are 242 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $934 a month in Toledo, down $125 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $62,224 in Toledo, up $7,990 (15%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 221 in Toledo, down 45 points (17%).
The move
Toledo and Milwaukee are 242 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, up $125 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $7,990 (13%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 266 in Milwaukee, up 45 points (20%).
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Milwaukee and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Toledo rent is 12% cheaper than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$1,059/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,059 in Milwaukee, so Toledo is 12% 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 $1,500, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Toledo still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Milwaukee.
Planning to buy in Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Toledo's median income is 15% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Toledo
Winner$62,224
Median household income is $62,224 in Toledo versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Toledo (about $7,990 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, Toledo 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
17% lower crime
Toledo's crime index is 17% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Toledo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% lower in Toledo. 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, Toledo 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
18% more comfortable
Milwaukee weather is 18% more comfortable than Toledo
Milwaukee
Winner55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Milwaukee scores 18% 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 Toledo if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Milwaukee if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (55°F) beat Toledo on this page's weather index by 18%. Toledo may pay more or cost less, but Milwaukee is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Toledo is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($62,224). Start with Toledo if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Toledo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 17% lower than Milwaukee (221 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
On rent alone, Toledo undercuts Milwaukee by $125/month ($934 vs $1,059). I would not pick Milwaukee on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Median income is $62,224 in Toledo versus $54,234 in Milwaukee.
Between Milwaukee and Toledo, Toledo is ahead on housing cost — $934/month rent against $1,059. Lean Milwaukee instead when your $54,234 income offer in Milwaukee outweighs saving $125/month in Toledo.
With rent only $125 apart, neither city wins on housing alone — let income ($54,234 vs $62,224) and safety (30/100 vs 36/100) break the tie.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Milwaukee and Toledo, plus other cities in WI and OH.
