Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 12 of 22 categories
Edinburg
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
100,964
Madison
Wisconsin
12
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($159,600 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $371/mo less ($920 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 28°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $20,756/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (2.6%)
Households earn $20,756 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$167k less
$159,600 vs $326,600
Edinburg
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Median Income
$20,756
$74,895 vs $54,139/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
5% lower
256.0 vs 269.6 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
2.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 31.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Madison leads 12 of 22 categories. Edinburg wins 10 and Madison wins 12. 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 Edinburg to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $326,600 median home), income ($54,139 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Madison, WI are about 1,258 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.