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South Milwaukee, WI

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South Milwaukee, WI

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 37
Population20,547
Foreign Born1.8%
Population Density4,258people per mi²
Median Age40.9 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

83/100

17% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $16k$30k
Comfortable $42k$62k
Luxury $96k+$149k+
Elite (Top 5%) $113k+$175k+
Affordability Ratio

113%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean91%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
17
Positive
5
Poor
0
Negative
4

Groceries

6 within 10 miles

0.6mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.2mi

Hospital

20 within 20 miles

1.1mi

Airport

ORD — O'Hare International

64.5mi

Post Office

USPS — South Milwaukee, WI

0.2mi

Critical Amenities

Golf7Nearest 0.8 mi
Camping6Nearest 8.5 mi
Marina3Nearest 8.2 mi
Winery1Nearest 6.3 mi
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range1Nearest 5.5 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$70k+2.0%
7% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$605k
8% below US avg
College Educated
27.7%
21% below US avg
WFH
11.4%
20% below US avg
Homeownership
66.8%
2% above US avg
Median Home
$216k
23% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
A
Very Safe

Lower crime rates than 84% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
10.9
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−22.8%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−31.9%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.25 / 1k Residents7% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
0.80 / 1k Residents51% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−13.8%
Burglary
0.80 / 1k Residents9% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
8.56 / 1k Residents21% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.30 / 1k Residents75% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+2Tilts Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dem Rep
40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
C+
Moderate

Moderate friction. Expect trade-offs in some aspect of personal liberty and independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C-
Weak10.9% of income
Property Rights
C-
FairIJ Grade C-
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (15% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
D+
RestrictedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
F
ProhibitedIllegal

Homesteading

Growing Season187 days239 frost-free
Annual Rainfall40.6"
Elevation686 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
D
Vulnerable

Multiple tactical vulnerabilities. Population density, target proximity, or disaster risk are likely compounding. A retreat property and exit planning is required.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
F
Poor9.1 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor4,258/sq mi
Fallout Danger
C+
Weak5 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorCold Wave, Inland Flooding, Tornado, Heat Wave, Strong Wind
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 257 mi · coast 706 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$342.1M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityMilwaukee577k people are 9.1 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital79 miMadison, WI
Nearest Prison9.6 mi3 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T10:36:34.000Z

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