Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 15 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470
Madison
Wisconsin
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($227,200 vs $326,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 28°F
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $20,455/yr
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Madison
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 2.6%)
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Madison, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.9 pts lower (2.6%)
35% less violent crime than Bridgeport
Households earn $20,455 more per year on average
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 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$99k less
$227,200 vs $326,600
Madison
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$20,455
$74,895 vs $54,440/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
35% lower
256.0 vs 392.9 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
6.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 15 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 8 and Madison wins 15. 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 Bridgeport to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $326,600 median home), income ($54,440 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Madison, WI are about 841 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.