Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Milwaukee, WI

    Is Milwaukee a good place to live?

    Watch Milwaukee

    Milwaukee ranks #35 of 35 Wisconsin cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (14/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.6% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $172,000
    +9.0% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,033
    per month
    Household income
    $51,888
    median
    Unemployment
    5.9%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Milwaukee

    The median home value in Milwaukee is $172,000 and median rent is $1,033 a month, against a median household income of $51,888. Homes cost about 3.3× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Milwaukee crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Wisconsin the 2025 rate was 245 violent and 1,033 property crimes per 100,000 people — #45 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Milwaukee, WI

    Milwaukee has about 569,756 residents, 5.9% unemployment and 17% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Milwaukee with

    Milwaukee vs MadisonMilwaukee vs Green BayMilwaukee vs KenoshaMilwaukee vs RacineMilwaukee vs AppletonMilwaukee vs WaukeshaMilwaukee vs Eau ClaireMilwaukee vs Oshkosh

    More: Where to move in Wisconsin · Best counties in Wisconsin

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report