Is Milwaukee cheaper than Raleigh?

Yes. Typical rent in Milwaukee is $1,059 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh — 33% cheaper. Median household income is $54,234 in Milwaukee compared with $85,395 in Raleigh, so Raleigh has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Milwaukee or Raleigh?

Raleigh is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 71 in Milwaukee — 55% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Milwaukee or Raleigh?

School composites are close: A- in Milwaukee and A- in Raleigh. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Milwaukee, WI vs Raleigh, NC

Milwaukee, WI versus Raleigh, NC is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,059 a month in Milwaukee and $1,572 in Raleigh, and median household income lands at $54,234 versus $85,395. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Milwaukee takes affordability and weather, while Raleigh takes job market and safety. The widest gap is median income, where Raleigh leads by 57% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Milwaukee can feel further apart than Milwaukee and Raleigh do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Milwaukee and Raleigh reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Milwaukee report Full Raleigh report

Milwaukee, WI

Rent: $1,059/mo
Median income: $54,234
Crime index: 71
Schools: A-
Weather: 66°F

Raleigh, NC

Rent: $1,572/mo
Median income: $85,395
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Rent

33% cheaper

Milwaukee rent is 33% cheaper than Raleigh

Milwaukee

Winner

$1,059/mo

Raleigh

$1,572/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Milwaukee is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $513/month back in your pocket — $6,156/year. Over five years that's $30,780 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 Raleigh, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Milwaukee is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

57% higher

Raleigh's median income is 57% higher than Milwaukee

Milwaukee

$54,234

Raleigh

Winner

$85,395

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Raleigh — about $31,161 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, Raleigh 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

55% lower crime

Raleigh's crime index is 55% lower than Milwaukee

Milwaukee

71 (100 = avg)

Raleigh

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Raleigh's crime index is 32 versus 71 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh is the easier city. Milwaukee can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Milwaukee and Raleigh are about even on school scores.

Milwaukee

A- · 84/100

Raleigh

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Milwaukee, A- in Raleigh). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

13% more comfortable

Milwaukee weather is 13% more comfortable than Raleigh

Milwaukee

Winner

66°F typical

Raleigh

78°F typical

What this means for your life

Milwaukee scores 13% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 66°F in Milwaukee and 78°F in Raleigh. Milwaukee reads as mild, livable temperatures; Raleigh reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Raleigh's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Milwaukee is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Milwaukee

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

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.

Pick Milwaukee if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 13%. Raleigh may pay more or cost less, but Milwaukee is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Milwaukee report →

Fit check

Who should choose Raleigh

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 57% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 55% lower than Milwaukee (32 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.

Open the Raleigh report →

Bottom line

Milwaukee vs Raleigh, called

If the job market is your priority, Raleigh is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Milwaukee pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Milwaukee offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Milwaukee vs Raleigh FAQ

Is Milwaukee cheaper than Raleigh?: Yes. Typical rent in Milwaukee is $1,059 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh — 33% cheaper. Median household income is $54,234 in Milwaukee compared with $85,395 in Raleigh, so Raleigh has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Milwaukee or Raleigh?: Raleigh is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 71 in Milwaukee — 55% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Milwaukee or Raleigh?: School composites are close: A- in Milwaukee and A- in Raleigh. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Milwaukee?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps