Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 14 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512
Madison
Wisconsin
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 28°F
Households earn $6,324 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Madison
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $665k less ($326,600 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $711/mo less ($1,291 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (2.6%)
11% less violent crime than Glendale
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $6,324/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$6,324
$81,219 vs $74,895/yr
Glendale
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 85.8°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
11% lower
256.0 vs 287.2 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$665k less
$326,600 vs $992,000
Madison
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
2.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 15.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 47.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 14 of 23 categories. Glendale 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 Glendale to Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $326,600 median home), income ($81,219 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Madison, WI are about 1,662 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.