Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845
Madison
Wisconsin
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $62,492 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Madison
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $507k less ($326,600 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $936/mo less ($1,291 vs $2,227)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $62,492/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$62,492
$137,387 vs $74,895/yr
Arlington
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$507k less
$326,600 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $833,300⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 15.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County Public Schools | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.2" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 11 and Madison wins 12. 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 ($833,300 vs $326,600 median home), income ($137,387 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and Madison, WI are about 705 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.