Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clovis, CA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Clovis leads 12 of 23 categories
Clovis
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607
Madison
Wisconsin
11
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.
Clovis, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,659 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $420,700
Higher rents — median is $1,482/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Madison
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (2.6%)
Homes cost $94k less ($326,600 vs $420,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $191/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,482)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Clovis
Cons
Median income trails Clovis by $23,659/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clovis
Median Income
$23,659
$98,554 vs $74,895/yr
Clovis
Violent Crime
4% lower
244.6 vs 256.0 per 100k
Clovis
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 107.8 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Home Value
$94k less
$326,600 vs $420,700
Madison
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clovis, CA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.8⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $420,700⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,482⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,554 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clovis Unified | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.6" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,607 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clovis's cost of living index is 107.8 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clovis leads 12 of 23 categories. Clovis wins 12 and Madison wins 11. 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 Clovis to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($420,700 vs $326,600 median home), income ($98,554 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clovis, CA and Madison, WI are about 1,650 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.