Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
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.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $239k less ($87,400 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $440/mo less ($851 vs $1,291)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Milder winters — January highs near 35°F vs 28°F
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $37,624/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
Households earn $37,624 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 9.3 pts lower (2.6%)
84% less violent crime than Cleveland
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 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$239k less
$87,400 vs $326,600
Madison
Median Income
$37,624
$74,895 vs $37,271/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
84% lower
256.0 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
9.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 11.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 82.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 38.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 268,516 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 23 categories. Cleveland 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 Cleveland to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $326,600 median home), income ($37,271 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Madison, WI are about 411 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.