Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cary, NC
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Cary leads 14 of 23 categories
Cary
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880
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.
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $50,422 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Madison
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 28°F
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Higher rents — median is $1,538/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Madison
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $151k less ($326,600 vs $477,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $247/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,538)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $50,422/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Cary
Median Income
$50,422
$125,317 vs $74,895/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
72% lower
71.0 vs 256.0 per 100k
Cary
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$151k less
$326,600 vs $477,400
Madison
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 3.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cary, NC | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $477,400⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,538⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $125,317 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 15.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 95.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.8" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,880 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.4 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cary's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 14 of 23 categories. Cary 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 Cary to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($477,400 vs $326,600 median home), income ($125,317 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cary, NC and Madison, WI are about 757 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.