Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 22 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($226,200 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $186/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $20,800/yr
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
67% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (2.6%)
Households earn $20,800 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$100k less
$226,200 vs $326,600
Columbia
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Median Income
$20,800
$74,895 vs $54,095/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
67% lower
256.0 vs 769.9 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 19.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 31.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 22 categories. Columbia wins 8 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 Columbia to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $326,600 median home), income ($54,095 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Madison, WI are about 775 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.