Who moves to Milwaukee, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Milwaukee County, WI, home of Milwaukee, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 26,088from other US counties
- Moved out
- 31,952to other US counties
- Net
- −5,864more departures than arrivals
- From abroad
- 279tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Waukesha County, WI | 4,625 |
| Racine County, WI (Racine) | 1,401 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 1,387 |
| Dane County, WI (Madison) | 918 |
| Ozaukee County, WI | 866 |
| Washington County, WI | 823 |
| Kenosha County, WI (Kenosha) | 517 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 487 |
| Lake County, IL (Waukegan) | 404 |
| Brown County, WI (Green Bay) | 357 |
| Walworth County, WI | 317 |
| Sheboygan County, WI | 283 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Waukesha County, WI | 7,631 |
| Racine County, WI (Racine) | 1,966 |
| Ozaukee County, WI | 1,489 |
| Washington County, WI | 1,300 |
| Cook County, IL (Chicago) | 1,073 |
| Dane County, WI (Madison) | 935 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 783 |
| Kenosha County, WI (Kenosha) | 438 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 370 |
| Sheboygan County, WI | 363 |
| Walworth County, WI | 339 |
| Brown County, WI (Green Bay) | 333 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 12,629 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in Wisconsin and 13,459 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 487 |
| Brown County, WI (Green Bay) | 357 |
| Outagamie County, WI (Appleton) | 256 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 220 |
| Hennepin County, MN (Minneapolis) | 208 |
| Tarrant County, TX (Fort Worth) | 183 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 177 |
| Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) | 163 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 783 |
| Harris County, TX (Houston) | 370 |
| Brown County, WI (Green Bay) | 333 |
| Hennepin County, MN (Minneapolis) | 297 |
| Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) | 252 |
| Tarrant County, TX (Fort Worth) | 250 |
| Dallas County, TX (Dallas) | 240 |
| Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles) | 188 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Milwaukee come from?
Most people moving into Milwaukee County, WI come from nearby counties, led by Waukesha County, WI (4,625 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Maricopa County, AZ.
Where do people leaving Milwaukee move to?
The top destination is Waukesha County, WI (7,631 people). Farther away, the most popular is Maricopa County, AZ.
Are more people moving to Milwaukee or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 26,088 people moved into Milwaukee County, WI from elsewhere in the US and 31,952 moved out, a net loss of 5,864 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Milwaukee with any city it trades people with, like Milwaukee vs Phoenix, Milwaukee vs Green Bay, Milwaukee vs Appleton, Milwaukee vs Los Angeles.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Milwaukee.