A network management system (NMS) is configured to control roaming in a wireless network using a variable mobility threshold. For a first wireless device associated with a current location, the NMS obtains at least one performance metric of a first wireless signal received by the first wireless device at the current location from a first AP of a plurality of APs, compares the at least one parameter of the first wireless signal to at least one performance metric of a second wireless signal received by at least one other wireless device at the current location from a second AP of the plurality of APs, and triggers a roaming operation of the first wireless device from the first AP to the second AP if the comparison satisfies a mobility threshold that varies based on the at least one performance metric of the first wireless signal.