Elm Grove, WI vs Milwaukee, WI
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Elm GroveElm Grove, WI | MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Soft | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Very Safe | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | Same |
| Sovereignty | Moderate | Moderate | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 4.5% in Elm Grove, WI and 23.3% in Milwaukee, WI, the poverty rate difference is 18.8 points according to 2023 Census figures. Milwaukee's violent crime rate of 1,064 per 100,000 people is 1,048 higher than Elm Grove's 16, placing Elm Grove in the 4th percentile and Milwaukee in the 98th percentile. Property crime per 100,000 people follows a similar pattern, with Milwaukee at 2,162 compared to Elm Grove's 502, a 4.3× higher rate.
Median household income in Elm Grove is $133,304, ranking in the 91st percentile, while Milwaukee's $51,888 sits in the 16th percentile. Per-capita income is $70,716 in Elm Grove and $29,679 in Milwaukee, a 2.4× difference. The median age in Elm Grove is 44.6 years, placing it in the 85th percentile, whereas Milwaukee's median age of 32.2 falls in the 12th percentile, a 12.4-year gap. Milwaukee's population of 569,756 is 563,328 larger than Elm Grove's 6,428, ranking Milwaukee in the 99th percentile for population size.
Unemployment is lower in Elm Grove at 2.6% compared to Milwaukee's 3.8%, a 1.2-point difference. The cost of living index in Elm Grove is 159, double the U.S. average and in the 82nd percentile, while Milwaukee's index of 78 is below average and in the 26th percentile. Median home values reflect this, with Elm Grove at $468,000 and Milwaukee at $172,000.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Elm Grove, WI | Milwaukee, WI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15982nd pctl | 7826th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Elm Grove, WI 159; Milwaukee, WI 78; Elm Grove is 2.0 times higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $468,00080th pctl | $172,00020th pctl | Median home value: Elm Grove, WI $468,000; Milwaukee, WI $172,000; Elm Grove is 2.7 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,78884th pctl | $1,03335th pctl | Median rent: Elm Grove, WI $1,788; Milwaukee, WI $1,033; Elm Grove is 73% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $133,30491st pctl | $51,88816th pctl | Median household income: Elm Grove, WI $133,304; Milwaukee, WI $51,888; Elm Grove is 2.6 times higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $90,92481st pctl | $33,41619th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Elm Grove, WI $90,924; Milwaukee, WI $33,416; Elm Grove is 2.7 times higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $133,65981st pctl | $49,12219th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Elm Grove, WI $133,659; Milwaukee, WI $49,122; Elm Grove is 2.7 times higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Milwaukee needs about
$36,800
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 159 vs 78). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Elm Grove, WI | Milwaukee, WI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 2.6%10th pctl | 3.8%57th pctl | Unemployment: Elm Grove, WI 2.6%; Milwaukee, WI 3.8%; Milwaukee is 1.2 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | 0.0%21st pctl | +0.4%32nd pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $70,71692nd pctl | $29,67920th pctl | Per-capita income: Elm Grove, WI $70,716; Milwaukee, WI $29,679; Elm Grove is 2.4 times higher. |
| Poverty rate | 4.5%11th pctl | 23.3%89th pctl | Poverty rate: Elm Grove, WI 4.5%; Milwaukee, WI 23.3%; Milwaukee is 18.8 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 22.4 min44th pctl | 22.4 min43rd pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 22.3%88th pctl | 11.2%53rd pctl | Work from home: Elm Grove, WI 22.3%; Milwaukee, WI 11.2%; Elm Grove is 11.1 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Strong | Weak | Economic opportunity: Elm Grove, WI B+; Milwaukee, WI D; Elm Grove is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | Job market: Elm Grove, WI A+; Milwaukee, WI B+; Elm Grove is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Elm Grove, WI | Milwaukee, WI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 164th pctl | 1,06498th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Elm Grove, WI 16; Milwaukee, WI 1,064; Milwaukee is 1,048 higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 50211th pctl | 2,16280th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Elm Grove, WI 502; Milwaukee, WI 2,162; Milwaukee is 4.3 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Elm Grove, WI A+; Milwaukee, WI F; Elm Grove is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Elm Grove, WI | Milwaukee, WI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | Tap water: Elm Grove, WI B+; Milwaukee, WI A+; Milwaukee is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort, broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Wisconsin, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Wisconsin →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Elm Grove, WI | Milwaukee, WI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 9 mi10th pctl | 4 mi3rd pctl | Nearest large city: Elm Grove, WI 9 mi; Milwaukee, WI 4 mi; Elm Grove is 2.6 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Good | Fair | Target proximity: Elm Grove, WI B+; Milwaukee, WI B-; Elm Grove is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 263 mi37th pctl | 257 mi35th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 719 mi85th pctl | 714 mi85th pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Elm Grove, WI | Milwaukee, WI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,42822nd pctl | 569,75699th pctl | Population: Elm Grove, WI 6,428; Milwaukee, WI 569,756; Milwaukee is 563,328 larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,97160th pctl | 5,92494th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Elm Grove, WI 1,971; Milwaukee, WI 5,924; Milwaukee is 3.0 times higher. |
| Median age | 44.685th pctl | 32.212th pctl | Median age: Elm Grove, WI 44.6; Milwaukee, WI 32.2; Elm Grove is 12.4 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 67.0%93rd pctl | 26.6%36th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Elm Grove, WI 67.0%; Milwaukee, WI 26.6%; Elm Grove is 40.4 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.882nd pctl | 2.445th pctl | Average household size: Elm Grove, WI 2.8; Milwaukee, WI 2.4; Elm Grove is 17% larger. |
More about Elm Grove's residents · Milwaukee's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Elm Grove and Milwaukee
- Median rent: $1,788 in Elm Grove, $1,033 in Milwaukee
- Median home value: $468,000 in Elm Grove, $172,000 in Milwaukee
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 159 in Elm Grove, 78 in Milwaukee
- Median household income: $133,304 in Elm Grove, $51,888 in Milwaukee
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $133,659 in Elm Grove, $49,122 in Milwaukee
- Unemployment: 2.6% in Elm Grove, 3.8% in Milwaukee
- Average commute: 22.4 min in Elm Grove, 22.4 min in Milwaukee
- Violent crime per 100k: 16 in Elm Grove, 1,064 in Milwaukee
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Compare a different pair
More places like Elm Grove and Milwaukee
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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