Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edmond, OK
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Edmond leads 16 of 23 categories
Edmond
Oklahoma
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$96,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
43 ✓ Safer
Population
94,503
Madison
Wisconsin
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895
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.
Edmond, OK
Pros
35% less violent crime than Madison
Households earn $21,494 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Homes cost $22k less ($304,700 vs $326,600)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Madison, WI
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Edmond by $21,494/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Edmond
Key Differences at a Glance
Edmond
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Edmond
Median Income
$21,494
$96,389 vs $74,895/yr
Edmond
Violent Crime
35% lower
165.2 vs 256.0 per 100k
Edmond
Median Home Value
$22k less
$304,700 vs $326,600
Edmond
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 3.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edmond, OK | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $304,700 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,257 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $96,389 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 43 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.0% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.8% ✓ Higher | 95.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDMOND | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.5" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,503 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.3% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edmond's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Edmond is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edmond leads 16 of 23 categories. Edmond wins 16 and Madison wins 7. 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 Edmond to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,700 vs $326,600 median home), income ($96,389 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edmond, OK and Madison, WI are about 666 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.