Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 15 of 23 categories
Carson
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Madison
Wisconsin
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,150 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 28°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Madison
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($326,600 vs $616,000)
39% less violent crime than Carson
Rent averages $524/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,815)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (2.6%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $28,150/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$28,150
$103,045 vs $74,895/yr
Madison
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
39% lower
256.0 vs 420.0 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$289k less
$326,600 vs $616,000
Madison
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Madison
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 82.2°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 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 | 111⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 15 of 23 categories. Carson 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 Carson to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $326,600 median home), income ($103,045 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Madison, WI are about 1,674 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.