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Wisconsin city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Milwaukee?

What it costs to live in Milwaukee, and how it compares with other Wisconsin cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

21

56th best value in Wisconsin

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Wisconsin cities.

Overall livability

16

57th overall in Wisconsin

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Milwaukee is home to about 578,198 people. A typical home runs $135,600 and a household earns around $45,300, a price-to-income ratio of 3.0. Among Wisconsin's largest cities, it ranks 56th for value and 57th overall.

Milwaukee at a glance

Median home price

$135,600

32nd in WI of 57

Median rent

$910/mo

Median household income

$45,300

Home price to income

3.0x

Unemployment

6.2%

54th in WI of 57

School rating

2/10

57th in WI of 57

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in WI of 57

Walk score

72/100

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‹ See all top Wisconsin cities ranked  ยท  Wisconsin state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Wisconsin only. Updated 2026.