Milwaukee County vs Racine County
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin versus Racine County, Wisconsin: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Racine County edges out Milwaukee County on overall objective livability (50 vs 43 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Milwaukee County | Racine County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $59k | $73k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $44k |
| Home Value | $200k | $227k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $985 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.16% | 1.76% |
| Income Tax | 7.60% | 7.60% |
| Sales Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 16.75% | 14.96% |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 24°F | 24°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.3 in | 35.7 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 46.0 in | 40.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 184 days | 184 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 100 days | 96 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 98.4 | 85.4 |
| Air Quality | 52 AQI | 44 AQI |
| School Quality | 69.3 | 69.2 |
| Violent Crime | 2005/100k | 648/100k |
| Property Crime | 2907/100k | 937/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 933,063 | 197,068 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 40.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.62 | 0.40 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.99 |
| Political Leaning | D+41 | Even |
| White (%) | 49.3% | 69.9% |
| Black (%) | 25.7% | 10.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 16.1% | 14.5% |
| Asian (%) | 4.6% | 1.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.4% | 3.7% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 22 min | 24 min |
| Walkability | 13.4/20 | 10.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 6 mi | 17 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.3% | 88.8% |
| Amenities Nearby | 12.60 | 2.99 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Milwaukee County or Racine County more affordable?
- Milwaukee County has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Milwaukee County's $44k and Racine County's $44k. Median rent is $1k in Milwaukee County versus $985 in Racine County.
- Is Milwaukee County or Racine County safer?
- Racine County has the lower violent crime rate. Milwaukee County reports 2005/100k and Racine County reports 648/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Milwaukee County or Racine County?
- The median home value is $200k in Milwaukee County and $227k in Racine County, so homes are more affordable in Milwaukee County.