Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Conroe, TX
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Conroe leads 12 of 23 categories
Conroe
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,630
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475
Madison
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
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.
Conroe, TX
Pros
Homes cost $64k less ($262,500 vs $326,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 28°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Madison
Median income trails Madison by $3,265/yr
Madison, WI
Pros
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 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (2.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Conroe
Violent Crime
5% lower
243.5 vs 256.0 per 100k
Conroe
Median Home Value
$64k less
$262,500 vs $326,600
Conroe
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$3,265
$74,895 vs $71,630/yr
Madison
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
2.6% vs 3.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Conroe, TX | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $262,500 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,630 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 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 | 78 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CONROE ISD | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.0" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,475 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Conroe's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Conroe leads 12 of 23 categories. Conroe 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 Conroe to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($262,500 vs $326,600 median home), income ($71,630 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Conroe, TX and Madison, WI are about 943 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.