Uprootmap
Rockford vs Milwaukee
Rockford and Milwaukee
Photo: Bfkenney / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Milwaukee are above the US rate in this release, 12.1 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Rockford to Milwaukee
In 2022-2023, 139 households filed a move from Rockford to Milwaukee (about 189 people, average adjusted gross income $45,691). 82 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $940 in Rockford and $1,261 in Milwaukee. Rockford has a state tax on wages. Milwaukee has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Milwaukee is 98% of the national level for the same work, against 89% in Rockford.
Milwaukee averages 190 sunny days, with July highs around 81°F and January nights around 15°F. Rockford is 195 sunny days, 82°F in July, 19°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Milwaukee and 24 in Rockford.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 139 households moved Rockford → Milwaukee (about 189 people, average AGI $45,691). 82 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Rockford and Milwaukee changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 87 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,000
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$700
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Dig into Milwaukee
Questions
Is Milwaukee cheaper than Rockford after tax and rent?
No. Milwaukee leaves about $217 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $940 in Rockford and $1,261 in Milwaukee.
Does Milwaukee have state income tax?
Milwaukee is in Wisconsin, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Rockford to Milwaukee?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.