Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 13 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Madison
Wisconsin
13
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 28°F
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Madison by $11,894/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
65% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,894 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$11,894
$74,895 vs $63,001/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
65% lower
256.0 vs 735.5 per 100k
Madison
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
2.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,291 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 268,516 |
| Median Age | 32.1 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 13 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 10 and Madison wins 13. 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 Fresno to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $326,600 median home), income ($63,001 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Madison, WI are about 1,657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.