Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 16 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Madison
Wisconsin
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $56k less ($270,700 vs $326,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 28°F
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Madison by $10,910/yr
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
61% less violent crime than Dallas
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,910 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Home Value
$56k less
$270,700 vs $326,600
Dallas
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$10,910
$74,895 vs $63,985/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
61% lower
256.0 vs 658.2 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 268,516 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 16 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 7 and Madison wins 16. 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 Dallas to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $326,600 median home), income ($63,985 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Madison, WI are about 815 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.