Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
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.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($229,000 vs $326,600)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 28°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 2.6%)
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Madison
Madison, WI
Pros
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $130/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,421)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Violent Crime
9% lower
232.7 vs 256.0 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$98k less
$229,000 vs $326,600
Garland
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Median Income
$3,851
$74,895 vs $71,044/yr
Madison
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
2.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $326,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $74,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 39.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland'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 14 of 23 categories. Garland wins 9 and Madison wins 14. 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 Garland to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $326,600 median home), income ($71,044 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Madison, WI are about 804 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.