City comparison
No. Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 375 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
The income gap between Nashville and Milwaukee is significant: $77,371 median household versus $54,234. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,586 in Nashville and $1,059 in Milwaukee.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Milwaukee costs less and Nashville pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Nashville and Milwaukee are 479 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $527 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $23,137 (30%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 266 in Milwaukee, down 16 points (6%).
The move
Milwaukee and Nashville are 479 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $527 a month (50%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $77,371 in Nashville, up $23,137 (43%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 282 in Nashville, up 16 points (6%).
Nashville, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Nashville and Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
33% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 33% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Milwaukee is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $527/month back in your pocket ($6,324/year). Over five years that's $31,620 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 Nashville, 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 Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
43% higher
Nashville's median income is 43% higher than Milwaukee
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Milwaukee
$54,234
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 43% higher in Nashville (about $23,137 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, Nashville 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
6% lower crime
Milwaukee's crime index is 6% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee
Winner266 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee's crime index is 266 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% lower in Milwaukee. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Milwaukee, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Nashville. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
35% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 35% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Nashville scores 35% 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
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 43% higher ($77,371), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 33% 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.
Milwaukee is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 6% lower than Nashville (266 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, Milwaukee undercuts Nashville by $527/month ($1,059 vs $1,586). I would not pick Nashville on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below Nashville's $1,586, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 64°F in Nashville and 55°F in Milwaukee.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Milwaukee; Nashville only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Nashville at $77,371 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Milwaukee when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Milwaukee, plus other cities in TN and WI.
