Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Madison
Wisconsin
9
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
33% less violent crime than Madison
Households earn $20,675 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 28°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Madison
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $271k less ($326,600 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $879/mo less ($1,291 vs $2,170)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $20,675/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$20,675
$95,570 vs $74,895/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
33% lower
171.0 vs 256.0 per 100k
Boca Raton
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$271k less
$326,600 vs $597,100
Madison
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 15.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 95.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 14 and Madison wins 9. 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 Boca Raton to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $326,600 median home), income ($95,570 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Madison, WI are about 1,269 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.