Milwaukee vs Wauwatosa
Milwaukee, Wisconsin versus Wauwatosa, Wisconsin: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Wauwatosa edges out Milwaukee on overall objective livability (50 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Milwaukee | Wauwatosa |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $50k | $94k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $44k |
| Home Value | $158k | $292k |
| Monthly Rent | $982 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.19% | 1.99% |
| Income Tax | 7.60% | 7.60% |
| Sales Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 16.43% | 15.67% |
| Unemployment | 5.9% | 2.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 24°F | 24°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.4 in | 33.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 52.3 in | 39.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 184 days | 184 days |
| Summer Humidity | 61°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 100 days | 99 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 19.3 | 14.9 |
| Air Quality | 53 AQI | 53 AQI |
| School Quality | 75.9 | 54.7 |
| Violent Crime | 2830/100k | 409/100k |
| Property Crime | 3274/100k | 2592/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 573,299 | 47,919 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 38.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.68 | 0.34 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.90 |
| Political Leaning | D+41 | D+41 |
| White (%) | 33.0% | 79.2% |
| Black (%) | 38.1% | 7.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 20.2% | 4.2% |
| Asian (%) | 4.7% | 4.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 22 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 14.4/20 | 14.0/20 |
| Airport Distance | 8 mi | 11 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 83.0% | 88.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 20.62 | 116.03 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: 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 or Wauwatosa more affordable?
- Wauwatosa has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Milwaukee's $44k and Wauwatosa's $44k. Median rent is $982 in Milwaukee versus $1k in Wauwatosa.
- Is Milwaukee or Wauwatosa safer?
- Wauwatosa has the lower violent crime rate. Milwaukee reports 2830/100k and Wauwatosa reports 409/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Milwaukee or Wauwatosa?
- The median home value is $158k in Milwaukee and $292k in Wauwatosa, so homes are more affordable in Milwaukee.