Below Average CostSafer than AverageMadison Metropolitan School District
Aerial View of Campus, with Helen C. White Hall in foreground (14070186173) · college.library / CC BY 2.0Wisconsin State Capitol and Monument 02 · Eric Kilby / CC BY-SA 2.0Monona Terrace, John Nolen Drive, Madison, WI (52745467085) · Warren LeMay from Covington, KY, United States / CC BY-SA 2.0Bascom Hall in Madison · Rosina Peixoto / CC BY-SA 3.0
Madison is a large city of 268,516 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $74,895
and a 2.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is
4% below the national average.
Strengths:
Madison stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Madison is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Madison city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 95.8
Madison's overall cost of living index is 95.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Madison costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.
Metric
Madison, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$326,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,291
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
47.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$74,895
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Madison's violent crime rate is 256.0 per 100,000 residents
— 33% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
256.0 /100k
Property Crime
1865.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Madison is served primarily by Madison Metropolitan School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Madison, WI
National Avg
School District
Madison Metropolitan School District
—
Elementary Schools
32
—
Middle Schools
13
—
High Schools
7
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
58.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Madison sees average highs of 27.7°F in January
and 82.2°F in July,
with 39.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 38.5 inches of snow per year.
Madison's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Madison roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $326,600 and median rent is $1,291/month.
Madison's violent crime rate is 256.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1865.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Madison are operated by Madison Metropolitan School District.
The district has 32 elementary, 13 middle, and 7 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1. 58.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Madison, WI has a population of 268,516, a median household income of $74,895, and an unemployment rate of 2.6%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Madison averages 27.7°F in January and 82.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.5 inches
with about 38.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Madison, WI is covered by 13 ZIP codes: 53704, 53718, 53719, 53705, 53713, 53714, 53716, 53717, 53703, 53715, 53726, 53706, 53792.
The population of Madison, Wisconsin is 268,516 with a median age of 31.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Madison: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $326,600, median household income $74,895, crime index 76 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Madison side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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