Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Antioch, CA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 23 categories
Antioch
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,709 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
115,016
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Antioch, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,814 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $570,900
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Madison
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $244k less ($326,600 vs $570,900)
Rent averages $859/mo less ($1,291 vs $2,150)
58% less violent crime than Antioch
Commutes run 25 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Antioch by $15,814/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Antioch
Median Income
$15,814
$90,709 vs $74,895/yr
Antioch
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
58% lower
256.0 vs 606.8 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$244k less
$326,600 vs $570,900
Madison
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Antioch, CA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $570,900⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,709 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 44.9 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 152⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Antioch Unified | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.7°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.6" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,016 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.5% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Antioch's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 23 categories. Antioch wins 9 and Madison wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Antioch to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($570,900 vs $326,600 median home), income ($90,709 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Antioch, CA and Madison, WI are about 1,725 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.