Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 23 categories
Chula Vista
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,089 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 28°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 82°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Madison
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $321k less ($326,600 vs $647,100)
Rent averages $744/mo less ($1,291 vs $2,035)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (2.6%)
32% less violent crime than Chula Vista
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Chula Vista by $27,089/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chula Vista
Median Income
$27,089
$101,984 vs $74,895/yr
Madison
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
32% lower
256.0 vs 375.8 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$321k less
$326,600 vs $647,100
Madison
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
2.6% vs 8.8% unemployment
Madison
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 82.2°F vs 74.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, CA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $647,100⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 268,516 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 23 categories. Chula Vista wins 9 and Madison wins 14. 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 Chula Vista to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $326,600 median home), income ($101,984 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and Madison, WI are about 1,659 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.