Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, CA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 23 categories
Concord
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$107,789 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
128⚠ High
Population
125,007
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
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.
Concord, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,894 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $706,700
Higher rents — median is $2,137/mo
Violent crime (484.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Madison
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $380k less ($326,600 vs $706,700)
Rent averages $846/mo less ($1,291 vs $2,137)
47% less violent crime than Concord
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (2.6%)
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $32,894/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$32,894
$107,789 vs $74,895/yr
Concord
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
47% lower
256.0 vs 484.6 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$380k less
$326,600 vs $706,700
Madison
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, CA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $706,700⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,137⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $107,789 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.7% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mt. Diablo Unified | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.9" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,007 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 23 categories. Concord 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 Concord to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($706,700 vs $326,600 median home), income ($107,789 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, CA and Madison, WI are about 1,735 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.