Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 12 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
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.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($121,100 vs $326,600)
Rent averages $374/mo less ($917 vs $1,291)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 28°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $25,042/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
79% less violent crime than Evansville
Households earn $25,042 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Evansville
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$206k less
$121,100 vs $326,600
Evansville
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Median Income
$25,042
$74,895 vs $49,853/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
79% lower
256.0 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 19.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 12 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 11 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 Evansville to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $326,600 median home), income ($49,853 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Madison, WI are about 366 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.