City comparison
Yes. Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 197 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
Safety is where Oklahoma City and Milwaukee split most clearly. Oklahoma City scores 83 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,059 in Milwaukee.
Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Oklahoma City has rougher pockets and Milwaukee has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oklahoma City and Milwaukee are 733 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $71 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $14,422 (21%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 266 in Milwaukee, up 83 points (45%).
The move
Milwaukee and Oklahoma City are 733 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, up $71 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, up $14,422 (27%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 183 in Oklahoma City, down 83 points (31%).
Oklahoma City, OK
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 Oklahoma City and Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 6% cheaper than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
$1,130/mo
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City, so Milwaukee is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $71, or $852 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
27% higher
Oklahoma City's median income is 27% higher than Milwaukee
Oklahoma City
Winner$68,656
Milwaukee
$54,234
Median household income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Oklahoma City (about $14,422 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, Oklahoma City 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
31% lower crime
Oklahoma City's crime index is 31% lower than Milwaukee
Oklahoma City
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Oklahoma City. 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, Oklahoma City 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
24% more comfortable
Oklahoma City weather is 24% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Oklahoma City
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oklahoma City scores 24% 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 27% higher ($68,656), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Oklahoma City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Milwaukee (183 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.
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 6% 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.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Oklahoma City leads on safety (42/100 vs 30/100 in Milwaukee). Typical rent is $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,059 in Milwaukee; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/month is still below Oklahoma City's $1,130, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Oklahoma City and 55°F in Milwaukee.
Oklahoma City is ahead on safety (42/100 vs 30/100); Milwaukee is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,059/month rent plus $54,234 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oklahoma City and Milwaukee, plus other cities in OK and WI.
