City comparison
No. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Milwaukee and Virginia Beach split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 204 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 $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach are 762 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $655 a month (62%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $38,734 (71%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 204 points (77%).
The move
Virginia Beach and Milwaukee are 762 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $655 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $38,734 (42%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 266 in Milwaukee, up 204 points (329%).
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Virginia Beach, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Milwaukee and Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 38% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Milwaukee is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $655/month back in your pocket ($7,860/year). Over five years that's $39,300 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 Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
71% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 71% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 71% higher in Virginia Beach (about $38,734 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, Virginia Beach 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
77% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 77% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% lower in Virginia Beach. 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, Virginia Beach 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
15% more comfortable
Virginia Beach weather is 15% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Virginia Beach
Winner59°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 83/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Virginia Beach averages about 59°F (63°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Virginia Beach averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Virginia Beach scores 15% 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 71% higher ($92,968), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 77% lower than Milwaukee (62 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Virginia Beach leads on safety (75/100 vs 30/100 in Milwaukee). Typical rent is $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,059 in Milwaukee; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Virginia Beach still pays more locally ($92,968 median income vs $54,234), which can offset the lease if your field pays Virginia Beach rates.
Median income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $54,234 in Milwaukee.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Virginia Beach; Milwaukee only makes sense when you have walked the Milwaukee ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,059 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Virginia Beach when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Milwaukee and Virginia Beach, plus other cities in WI and VA.
