Green Bay vs Milwaukee
Compare Green Bay, WI and Milwaukee, WI on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $924/mo in Green Bay and $1,052/mo in Milwaukee, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,055/mo and $1,170/mo. Across the four public-data screens Milwaukee comes out ahead (263 vs 237 summed points), though Green Bay still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 81°F and 81°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Green Bay; if walkable daily life matters more, Milwaukee screens stronger on the walkability proxy (27 vs 8). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Green Bay leads 67 to 63 on the cost and climate screen.
Milwaukee leads 85 to 78 on the work screen.
Milwaukee leads 48 to 41 on the daily life screen.
Milwaukee leads 67 to 51 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Green Bay is roughly $56,667 in Milwaukee using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Green Bay | Milwaukee | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $924/mo | $1,052/mo | Green Bay |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,055/mo | $1,170/mo | Green Bay |
| Median home value | $220,000 | $267,000 | Green Bay |
| State income tax | 7.7% | 7.7% | Tie |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 24.6 min | Green Bay |
| Safety score | 65/100 | 63/100 | Green Bay |
| School score | 5/10 | 7/10 | Milwaukee |
| Walkability estimate | 8/100 | 27/100 | Milwaukee |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 5/10 | Green Bay |
| Restaurants per 100k | 164.6 | 168.4 | Milwaukee |
| Mountain distance | 264 mi | 314 mi | Green Bay |
| Coast distance | 663 mi | 635 mi | Milwaukee |
What stands out
Green Bay stronger signals
- Trail access within 45 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 20 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Green Bay tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Milwaukee stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 12 miles
Milwaukee tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Green Bay cheaper than Milwaukee?
On public benchmarks Green Bay is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $924/mo in Green Bay vs $1,052/mo in Milwaukee; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,055/mo vs $1,170/mo; state income tax is 7.7% vs 7.7%.
Is Green Bay or Milwaukee safer?
Green Bay screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 65/100 for Green Bay and 63/100 for Milwaukee (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Green Bay or Milwaukee?
School screens show 5/10 for Green Bay vs 7/10 for Milwaukee, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Green Bay and Milwaukee?
Green Bay: summer highs near 81°F, winter lows near 5°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Milwaukee: 81°F / 10°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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