Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $75k less ($251,300 vs $326,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 28°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.6%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Madison
Median income trails Madison by $3,159/yr
Madison, WI
Pros
47% less violent crime than Arlington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Home Value
$75k less
$251,300 vs $326,600
Arlington
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$3,159
$74,895 vs $71,736/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
47% lower
256.0 vs 482.9 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 268,516 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington 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 Arlington to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $326,600 median home), income ($71,736 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Madison, WI are about 830 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.