Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaumont, TX
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 13 of 23 categories
Beaumont
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,745
Violent Crime Index
299⚠ High
Population
114,573
Madison
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
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.
Beaumont, TX
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($150,400 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $299/mo less ($992 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $21,150/yr
Violent crime (1137.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3302.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
77% less violent crime than Beaumont
Households earn $21,150 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Beaumont
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaumont
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Beaumont
Median Home Value
$176k less
$150,400 vs $326,600
Beaumont
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Median Income
$21,150
$74,895 vs $53,745/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
77% lower
256.0 vs 1137.3 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaumont, TX | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $150,400 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $992 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,745 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 242⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 299⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.9:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.8% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BEAUMONT ISD | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.6°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.1" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,573 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaumont's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Beaumont is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 13 of 23 categories. Beaumont wins 10 and Madison wins 13. 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 Beaumont to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,400 vs $326,600 median home), income ($53,745 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaumont, TX and Madison, WI are about 935 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.