Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $49,722 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than Madison
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Madison
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($326,600 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $658/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,949)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $49,722/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$49,722
$124,617 vs $74,895/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
32% lower
172.8 vs 256.0 per 100k
Centennial
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.3°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$260k less
$326,600 vs $586,500
Madison
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 3.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 15.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 95.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 38.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories. Centennial 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 Centennial to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $326,600 median home), income ($124,617 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Madison, WI are about 835 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.