HEAD TO HEAD
Madison vs Milwaukee
Milwaukee leads Madison on 4 of 5 factors — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
Madison, WI
wins 1 of 5 factors
Milwaukee, WI
wins 4 of 5 factors
Match scores, side by side
| Factor | Madison | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable to buy | 77 | 81 ◆ |
| Affordable to rent | 70 | 75 ◆ |
| Climate comfort | 31 | 33 ◆ |
| Plenty of sunshine | 38 ◆ | 33 |
| Big-city amenities | 79 | 90 ◆ |
By the numbers
| Figure | Madison | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $453K | $390K |
| Typical rent | $1,683/mo | $1,538/mo |
| Average temperature | 8.1°C | 8.3°C |
| Sunshine (solar energy) | 3.85 kWh/m²/day | 3.67 kWh/m²/day |
| Metro size rank (US) | #88 | #41 |
Home & rent Zillow, May 2026 · climate & sunshine NASA POWER climatology. Scores are normalised 0–100 across all metros; higher is better. A research aid, not advice.