Milwaukee vs Racine
Compare Milwaukee, WI and Racine, 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 $1,052/mo in Milwaukee and $985/mo in Racine, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,170/mo and $1,092/mo. Across the four public-data screens Milwaukee comes out ahead (263 vs 231 summed points), though Racine 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 Racine; if walkable daily life matters more, Milwaukee screens stronger on the walkability proxy (27 vs 18). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Milwaukee leads 85 to 74 on the work screen.
Milwaukee leads 48 to 38 on the daily life screen.
Milwaukee leads 67 to 55 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Milwaukee is roughly $102,000 in Racine using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee | Racine | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,052/mo | $985/mo | Racine |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,170/mo | $1,092/mo | Racine |
| Median home value | $267,000 | $226,000 | Racine |
| State income tax | 7.7% | 7.7% | Tie |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 25.5 min | Milwaukee |
| Safety score | 63/100 | 65/100 | Racine |
| School score | 7/10 | 4/10 | Milwaukee |
| Walkability estimate | 27/100 | 18/100 | Milwaukee |
| Outdoor score | 5/10 | 5/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 168.4 | 152.2 | Milwaukee |
| Mountain distance | 314 mi | 294 mi | Racine |
| Coast distance | 635 mi | 620 mi | Racine |
What stands out
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
Racine stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 16 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Racine tradeoffs
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Milwaukee cheaper than Racine?
On public benchmarks Racine is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,052/mo in Milwaukee vs $985/mo in Racine; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,170/mo vs $1,092/mo; state income tax is 7.7% vs 7.7%.
Is Milwaukee or Racine safer?
Racine screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 63/100 for Milwaukee and 65/100 for Racine (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Milwaukee or Racine?
School screens show 7/10 for Milwaukee vs 4/10 for Racine, 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 Milwaukee and Racine?
Milwaukee: summer highs near 81°F, winter lows near 10°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Racine: 81°F / 5°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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